An example of year-round nest fidelity among urban-resident Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) in Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Edward Kroc

Edward Kroc1,2

1 Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, 2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., V6T1Z4, Canada (ekroc@stat.ubc.ca)
2 Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, 2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., V6T1Z4, Canada

Abstract: An exceptional case of nest fidelity in a pair of Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) is described. From 2011 May to 2016 September, the pair was recorded living on and actively defending their nesting territory from conspecifics in downtown Vancouver, B.C. on an almost daily basis, year-round. While gulls are well-known to vigorously defend their nesting territory over multiple years during breeding seasons, it is highly unusual to observe such behaviour in the fall and winter months.

Key words: Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens, nest fidelity, urban nesting, rooftop nesting, urban ecology

PDFicon Kroc, E. 2018. An example of year-round fidelity among urban-resident Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. British Columbia Birds 28:28–31.

 

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