The amount of gulls in the Lac La Biche area seems to be on the rise, with more and more covering the baseball diamonds and roof of the curling rink every day. But to get a count of how many gulls have made Lac La Biche their temporary home, — and why so many .. you’d have to wing the answer.
Finding experts to talk about the gulls is a surprisingly difficult task.
The municipality does not have a resident gull expert on hand, and when the POST reached out to Alberta Environment and Parks to discuss concerns about gulls, their representatives provided a statement outlining the protections the gulls face under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, and suggested we speak to Environment Canada about the gulls. Environment Canada officials were not able to provide information about our local gull numbers, or trends in the local population.
The best source for local information on the gulls would be the Lac La Biche Birding Society, but even they will admit they do not keep numbers on the gull populations.
Lac La Biche Birding Society president Jennifer Okrainec says that the bird population seems to be on the rise.
“It seems to be, but again, we don’t know for sure. I’m part of the birding society, but nobody has ever counted the number of gulls at that time of year,” she said.
Important area
The Lac La Biche community was proclaimed an Important Birding Area by Nature Canada about 15 years ago because of the many migratory bird species that spend time in the area.
The IBA Canada website lists 15 gulls and terns that historically spend their summer months in the region. The Franklins’s, California and Herring gulls, along with Bonaparte’s and Ring-billed gulls (in the photo to the right) make up the majority from data the organization collects each year — but they don’t offer any number estimates.
Most area residents know there’s more than normal. Even when the birds aren’t around, they leave other clues. Sidewalks, playing fields, roofs and lakeside beaches are covered with bird feathers and other leavings.
Early bird
According to some online websites relating to bird migrations, the larger-than-normal rainfall in the region could have some impact this year’s increase in numbers. Some nature officials say that earthworms and other grubs in the rain saturated ground of the region are forced to the surface by the rising groundwater, making easy meals for the gulls, which are omnivores. The large groups of the birds on roofs, in lakes and parks is more of a communal defensive strategy for early warnings from any predators or disturbance, say some experts.
Post staff will continue to look for more information on the recent gull invasion.
Check the Lac La Biche POST's facebook page for any updates or related stories we can find.
