Seagull - The White Pavilion
Seagull
The most numerous genus of birds in the gull family, inhabiting both marine expanses and inland waters. Many species are considered synanthropic—they live near humans and benefit from this.
Typically, these are large or medium-sized birds with white or gray plumage, often with black markings on the head or wings. The coloration of the bird depends on the species to which the seagull belongs. The average length of the bird is 30-80 cm, and the weight is usually from 150 g to 2 kg. One of the distinguishing characteristics is a strong, slightly curved beak at the end, designed to hold slippery fish. Seagulls have webbed feet that resemble flippers, which greatly helps them move easily across the water.
Seagulls feed on fish, which they catch from the water, and they can circle for hours to spot their prey. They also eat mollusks, crabs, and jellyfish found on the shore. To eat a mollusk, a seagull flies high into the sky and drops a stone on the shell to open it. These birds adapt very well to any habitat; they are not afraid of humans and can beg for bread and fish.
Seagulls begin to breed at the age of 1 to 4 years. Once a pair of seagulls is formed, the female starts begging the male for food, and he feeds her. The birds nest in large colonies, at short distances from each other, which is very prudent, as chicks like to wander and can be killed. Seagulls build their nests from various debris, where the female lays one to three eggs. The eggs are incubated by the seagulls in turns for 3-4 weeks. The chicks are very greedy, eating five times a day. Both the female and the male take care of feeding them. After just 10-12 days, they can walk, and after 40 days, the chicks can fly.
The taxonomy of large gull species is often complex—different ornithologists identify from two to eight species within the groups of silver gulls or kittiwakes. Additionally, interspecific hybridization is common among gulls, resulting in hybrid offspring with intermediate characteristics.
Birds
