Painted Gull
Basic Information
Anatomy
The painted gull is a sea bird about the size of a crow, with webbed feet, sleek beak, and sharply angled but long wings for soaring.
Genetics and Reproduction
Painted Gulls breed all year thanks to their often tropical habitat, at least in their Shanin range, and lay between 3 and 5 eggs each time. They also will continue breeding until death, so one female can have up to a hundred offspring in her lifetime, if every one of her eggs hatches. They will build their nests anywhere, from rocky cliffs, trees, to on top of buildings and signs. Chicks hatch after roughly 23 days and it takes roughly 4 weeks before they fledge and can fly, only staying nearby their parents for about two months before they venture off on their own.
Ecology and Habitats
Painted gulls can be found all across the Pacific Coast, and are the most populace seabird found across many of the islands. They can also be found along the coasts of Laramidia, though are only found further west into Appalachia after particularly large storms in the Yellowstone Gulf blow them off course. Generally, they prefer warmer and tropical climates, only being found in northern areas in the height of summer.
Dietary Needs and Habits
As with all seagulls, the painted gull is adapted to a coastal life feeding on fish, crustaceans, and anything that washes ashore. Due to their high intelligence, painted gulls are well known for taking advantage of the tides to hunt in tide pools, dig up clams and mussels, and hunt crabs as they escape flooded burrows. Seaweeds, kelp, algae, fruits, seeds, and beach grasses also make up a significant portion of their diets.
Painted Gulls are also known pests around beaches and boardwalks who will mob visitors for food. The gulls are known to work in groups with individuals who will harass a person while others will work to snatch food and escape with it. Food theft is such an issue within their range that an estimated 45-68% of painted gulls are habituated to people and their food globally, with much higher percentages in beachside towns and cities. Due to their aggression when stealing food from people and subsequent injuries, attempts have been made at creating gull proof trash bins, but progress has been slow and likely resulted in craftier birds.
Behaviour
Painted gulls are extremely intelligent and known to make use of tools, mob behavior, and to work cooperatively. While they do not form persistent groups, the birds will work cooperatively when there is plentiful food opportunity or extreme shortages of it, such as during droughts. When food is plentiful, the birds will generally be much more peaceful, less bothersome to people, and less aggressive overall. During food shortages, they may work together to harass people for food and take on larger prey, but are known to become much more aggressive once a meal has been secured, fighting to eat it for themselves first.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Painted Gulls do not have a strong social structure, however they do tend to gather in large groups for protection, as there is safety in numbers. The gulls are extremely competitive with one another, often fighting over food, nesting sites, and personal space.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Many island communities utilize the birds as a food source, as they are plentiful and quick to breed. There is also a market for their their feathers in areas where the birds are commonly hunted for food, although this has had very little impact on their plentiful population.
Lifespan
20 years
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Distinguishing them from other gulls, these birds are often quite colorful, with a 'water color' appearance of pinks, purples, and reds across their bodies.
Geographic Distribution
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