[CT Birds] Great Black-backed Gull & Red-breasted MerganserConfrontation - also Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

[Frank Mantlik]

Richard,
On two occasions in past winters in CT, I have
witnessed a GBBG attack, pound, kill, and eat a
perfectly healthy black duck.  Both times its like
they just went on a rage, and beat up on an
unsuspecting nearby individual.  Both times it was a
cold, icy winter, and along the shore.
Frank Mantlik
Stratford


--- "Richard L. Becker" <rlbecker at SongStar.org> wrote:

> Kathy,
> 
> Those were "little greenish puffballs" are easy for
> a Greater
> Black-backed Gull to swallow. The merganser we saw
> was a full-grown
> adult.
> 
> Richard/CT
> 
> On Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:42:08 -0500, Kathy Van Der
> Aue wrote:
> 
> :The greater black backs are deadly with the little
> eider ducklings in
> Maine. 
> :It's a horrible sight to see the little greenish
> puffballs plucked out
> from 
> :under the watchful eyes of the mothers and
> aunties...
> :
> :Kathy Van Der Aue, Southport, CT
> :kvda at optonline.net
> :----- Original Message ----- 
> :From: <p.s.holden at comcast.net>
> :To: <ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org>
> :Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 4:45 PM
> :Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Great Black-backed Gull &
> Red-breasted 
> :MerganserConfrontation - also Yellow-bellied
> Sapsucker
> :
> :
> :> Really?  I didn't know the Great Black-Backed
> Gull would prey on
> ducks.  I
> :> just learned something new!
> :>
> :> Thanks,
> :> Pam
> :>
> :>
> :> ----- Original Message ----- 
> :> From: "Richard L. Becker" <rlbecker at SongStar.org>
> :> To: <ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org>
> :> Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 1:51 PM
> :> Subject: [CT Birds] Great Black-backed Gull &
> Red-breasted Merganser
> :> Confrontation - also Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
> :>
> :>
> :>> At Shippan Point in Stamford this morning, we
> watched a Great
> :>> Black-backed Gull attacking a male Red-breasted
> Merganser. It was a
> :>> little too far to see clearly, but at various
> times it looked as
> though
> :>> the gull was holding by a wing, a leg, and
> possibly its neck. The
> :>> merganser was struggling, flailing its wings and
> legs. After about
> :>> fifteen minutes, the merganser ceased its
> struggle as the gull
> turned
> :>> the merganser belly up.
> :>>
> :>> Also, saw a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Cummings
> Beach Park in
> Stamford
> :>> this morning.
> :>>
> :>> Joan and Richard Becker
> :>>
> :>>                              Richard L. Becker
> :>>                      Fairfield County,
> Connecticut
> :>>          www.songstar.org     
> rlbecker at songstar.org
> :>>
> :>>
> :>>
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> Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion
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