Laughing Gull Chidimma Okoro
What is it?
The Laughing Gull is a medium-sized seabird of North and South America. It breeds on the Atlantic coast of North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. This gull is white with grey wings and a dark black head during the summer nesting season. In winter, the black head becomes more of a subtle grey.
Scientific name - genus species: Leucophaeus
Non-domesticated
Energy Transfer
Fish
Tiger Shark
Laughing Gull
Seaweed
Ecology ď ľ
Laughing Gulls are primarily coastal gulls and are only rarely found far inland. They are found along beaches, in saltmarshes, in mangroves, or on agricultural fields or landfills near the coast. They nest in saltmarshes, on islands, and on sandy beaches; safely isolated from predators.
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Other living things that are found here: Terns, larger gulls,
Black Skimmers, and American Oystercatchers. ď ľ
Predator or prey? Both
Evolution ď ľ
Laughing Gulls nest on land. They reproduce via internal fertilization, and the females lay fertilized eggs in nests made of coastal grasses, directly on the ground. Both males and females incubate the eggs and care for the chicks. Laughing Gulls reach sexual maturity at approximately age three.
Fun Facts
Laughing Gulls eat almost anything, including food they catch or steal, handouts from beachgoers, garbage, and discards from fishing boats.
The oldest known Laughing Gull was 22 years old.
The male and female Laughing Gull usually build their nest together. If a male cannot find a mate, he may start building a nest platform and then use it to attract a female.
The laughing gull's English name is derived from its loud call, which sounds like a high-pitched laugh "ha... ha... ha...".
https://youtu.be/IS3HSguQNM8
Resources
http:// www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Laughing_Gull/lifehistory#at_food
http://oceana.org/marine-life/seabirds/laughing-gull
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laughing_gull