[CT Birds] Old Saybrook Bonaparte's

[David Provencher]

It seems to me over the past few years that Bonaparte's Gulls have been much
less in evidence around the mouth of the CT River than had previously been
the case. Bonaparte's Gulls exhibit a very diverse repertoire of foraging
behaviors. This is perhaps not so surprising considering they nest in
coniferous trees far inland, migrate along coasts as well as overland, and
are more pelagic in winter than most gull species. So in exploiting such
varied habitat during the year, they must seasonally utilize very different
food types. They also tend to maintain a flock dynamic during migration and
foraging and sometimes can be found in quite large flocks, even numbering
many thousands. It is these flocks that we look to find in Springtime with
high hopes of finding a Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, or even the holy
grail of a Ross's Gull entrained.

 

My guess is that the Bonaparte's have simply been following their prey base
in Long Island Sound. And that prey base has likely not been as concentrated
around the mouth of the CT river as it is in other areas of the sound. It
seems to me most reports of large Boney flocks have come from the western
end of the sound lately. Also Boneys are not likely to go very far from
where they are successfully feeding to roost. Perhaps some biodynamic has
shifted in the area of the CT river mouth and it currently is not that
attractive to the Boneys at any tide. Still, Boneys also regularly exploit
upwellings at tidal rips and there has always been notable tidal rips where
the CT river dumps into the sound. The population of Boneys is fairly stable
as far as I know so it isn't a case of there being fewer birds around. Well
many things in nature are cyclical and perhaps in a year or two South Cove
Old Saybrook will see a return of the roosting Boney flocks. 

 

Dave