LAUGHING GULL ( Larus atricilla ) 



Status . --Fairly common over shallow coastal waters inshore of the 10 

 fathom contour (ca. 19 km offshore) from early spring to late fall. Spring 

 transients occasionally pass further offshore, and fall transients and post- 

 breeding birds sometimes forage out to, or beyond the 40 fathom contour (ca 95 

 km offshore) (Fig. 26). The species is an abundant breeding bird along the 

 entire coast of the Delmarva Peninsula. 



Normal period of occurrence . --Mid-March to mid-December. 



Earliest spring record . --16 March 1975. 



Latest fall record . --6 December 1975. 



Maximum counts .— SPRING: 130 in 3 h, 2-5 km ESE Ocean City, 30 April 

 1977 SUMMER: 200 in 4 h, 2-60 km E Lewes, Delaware, 11 August 1975; 350 in 

 0.5 h, 5-15 km SE Ocean City, 23 August 1577. FALL: 202 in 4.5 h, 2-75 km E 

 Ocean City, 23 November 1974. 



Remarks . --Laughing gulls occasionally followed vessels leaving shore, but 

 usually departed before sight of land was lost. 



E 

 o 



■4-» 



1000-1 



500- 



100- 



40- 



30- 



20- 



10- 



0- 



X 

 X 

 X 



J F 



month 



1=0.1-1.0 1 = 1.1-10 H=ll-75 



MEAN NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OBSERVED PER HOUR 



X = ZONE NOT SAMPLED IN THIS MONTH 

 Figure 26. Seasonal abundance and seaward distribution patterns of the laugh- 



ing gulls in the northern Chesapeake Bight, 1971-1977. 



BONAPARTE'S GULL ( Larus Philad elphia ) 



Status . --Common fall and spring transient and fairly common winter visit- 

 ant over shallow coastal waters within 20 km of shore (Fig. 27). 



