BULLETIN 
OF THE 
WISCONSIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
Vol. 4, New Series. OCTOBER, 1906. No. 4. 
NOTES OF THE HERRING GULL AND THE CASPIAN 
TERN. 
(Larus argentatus and Sterna caspia). 
By He;nry L. Ward. 
The Herring Gull is a permanent resident of Wisconsin, but 
not of the Milwaukee region. It comes to us from its northern 
breeding ground about the first of October and stays until the 
latter part of May. 
To the urbanite it is particularly in evidence during the depths 
of severe winters, when the inhospitable ice fields of the lake force 
it to seek the rivers and basins that are kept open by passing ves- 
sels. From the down town bridges we acquire an intimate 
acquaintance with so much of its economy as has to do with its 
search for food under these artificial surroundings and in such 
unusual proximity to man. Normally this gull is a wary bird, 
seeming to appreciate the dangers of a close approach to that most 
destructive creature, man, and to have a fair idea of the range of 
a gun ; but when the frozen lake forces it to seek food and shelter 
elsewhere its actions indicate that it is well aware that when 
between the factory lined docks of the river no gun will be raised 
against it. It is a cause for admiration to notice how quickly not 
only the gulls but hundreds of wild ducks, principally Old Squaws, 
Lesser Scaups and King Eiders, accustom themselves under the 
stress of hunger to this extraordinary proximity to man. When 
within twenty-five yards of a bridge constantly thronged with foot 
passengers and carrying a continuous procession of wagons, auto- 
mobiles and clanging electric cars, these birds are much more at 
ease than they would be in open water with a man on the shore 
two hundred yards distant. 
113 
