Gull Attacking Bufflehead

[Kris Ito]

I wasn't planning any birding today with the impending snowstorm, but since I was driving across the lakeshore in Toronto, I couldn't resist a quick stop to look for interesting gulls. I was watching a group of 5 Great Black-backed Gulls at Sir Casimir Gzowski Park when I noticed one of the adults with a tiny female Bufflehead. What occurred next was agonizing to watch, but I couldn't look away. He held her by the wing and tried several times to hold her underwater. He then changed his grip, holding her by the head and shaking her violently. I prayed that her neck would break and it would be over. Sadly she continued to struggle. After 3 agonizing minutes, she finally fell limp and he carried her onto the ice. I couldn't watch what would come next, and so returned to my car. I have always read that these are the world's largest gulls and known opportunists, eating fish and birds alike, but watching one in action is something I will never forget. "Nature's Way" can be so brutal. - Kris   :cry:


GBBG Attack by Kris Ito, on Flickr

GBBG Attack continues by Kris Ito, on Flickr

GBBG Attack continues by Kris Ito, on Flickr

[Dinusaur]

What a moment to capture.

[Walter Fisher]

Wow!  Great capture Kris, albeit sad.  These moments always stir up mixed emotions.

Walter

[Brian Bailey]

Wow, quite a spectacle! I've seen them go after other birds on the east coast, but not here in Toronto, so I tend to forget how aggressive they can be.  

The closest I've seen here is watching them systematically attack mergansers to steal their fish.


BB

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[candidpets]

i have never seen a gbb gull in torontot is there a spot where they like to flock ?


herring gull i saw kill a pigeon at bramlea city center

but usuallly in this area i agree gulls dont seem that predatory

[Henrique Pacheco]

The spit and sunny sidebeach is good for GBBG. They're usually only here in the winter however.