GULLS AND TERNS: Family Laridae [ 2.81 ] 



and the mouth of every fresh-water stream in winter are composed of 

 several species, but the Glaucous-winged Gull is probably the most 

 abundant of them all. It has been found in every coast county of the 

 State, not only along the shore but following the streams inland to feed 

 on dead salmon that spawn in the fall and winter months. It follows 

 the Columbia and is the most common wintering gull at Portland and 

 up the Columbia, at least as far as Vancouver, and to the Falls of the 

 Willamette on that stream. It occasionally goes farther inland. It has 

 been observed in midwinter as far up the Columbia as Heppner Junction 

 in Morrow County and can be looked for up the Willamette occasionally 

 and probably up the Rogue farther than we have observed it. 



One of the interesting things on the Oregon coast during the winter 

 is the great congregation of gulls that takes place in rough weather. 

 Apparently during fair weather the gulls scatter widely along the coast 

 and out to sea, taking refuge in the more sheltered bays and inlets at 

 the beginning of a severe storm. In December 1930 the writers were 

 together at Gold Beach, Oregon, just as a rather severe southwester 

 broke. Before the storm there had not been an unusual number of gulls 

 in the river mouth. As the storm broke, gulls commenced to arrive in 

 straggling groups from all directions, alighting on a sand spit at the 

 river mouth, until there were acres of birds congregated. In this great 

 conglomeration, Glaucous-winged Gulls were the most abundant species 

 and remained so during two days that we stayed in the territory. Decem- 

 ber 7, 1931, there was a similar congregation of gulls on the Columbia 

 River bottoms at Portland, and again the Glaucous-winged Gulls were 

 the most abundant species. This great congregation persisted for three 

 days and then broke up until only the usual number of birds were present. 



Like all gulls, these are masters of the air, and the sight of them on 

 the wing is one of the real attractions on the Oregon coast. Even in the 

 heaviest storms, when nearly all other birds are glad to find sheltered 

 places, the gulls may be seen over the breakers fighting their way into 

 the teeth of the gale with powerful wing beats and cleverly taking 

 advantage of the breakers themselves to make progress against the wind. 

 We have often seen them indulging in this pastime apparently for the 

 pure joy of fighting the storm. They will fight their way against the 

 wind for some distance, whirl upward, and drift with the storm for long 

 distances before again taking up their flight. We have also watched 

 them apparently feeding on small schools of surface-feeding fish off the 

 breakwaters during the stormiest periods that come on the Oregon coast. 



Few of the larger salt-water gulls are of any particular economic sig- 

 nificance, although as they come into the fields for rest during the stormy 

 periods they may do some good by catching mice. They certainly do no 

 damage, as the fish they obtain are small surface-feeding anchovies and 

 other small species that abound on the Oregon coast. Primarily gulls are 



