the common bent-wing bat , schreibers ' long-fingered bat , or schreibers ' bat ( miniopterus schreibersii ) is a species of bat in the family miniopteridae .

it is a species of subtropical origin distributed throughout the southern palearctic , ethiopic , oriental , and australian regions .

in europe , it is present in the southern half from iberia to the caucasus , with the largest populations found in the warmer mediterranean area .

the common and scientific names honor carl franz anton ritter von schreibers .

common bent - wing bat

a common bent - wing bat photographer : g . b . baker / nature focus © australian museum
the southern bent - wing bat . ( credit : rick hammond / zoos victoria
wikipedia article copyright notice : this article is licensed under the gnu free documentation license . it uses material from the wikipedia article
common bent - wing bat
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the natural host is likely the common bent - wing bat ( miniopterus schreibersii ) and the groundleaf giant bat ( hipposideros gigas ) . viral rna was detected in pharyngeal and anal swabs of apparently healthy bats .
south west integrated flora & fauna team ( swifft ) ( 2007 ) . common bent - wing bat . available from : urltoken . [ accessed : 02 - jun - 2008 ] .
management documents relevant to the southern bent - wing bat are at the start of the profile . the action plan for australian bats ( duncan et al . 1999 ) and the commonwealth conservation advice on miniopterus schreibersii bassanii - southern bent - wing bat ( tssc 2007s ) provide guidance on threat abatement and management strategies for the southern bent - wing bat .
menkhorst , p . w . & l . f . lumsden ( 1995 ) . common bent - wing bat . in : mammals of victoria . oxford university press , south melbourne , australia .
codd j . 1997 . overwintering behavioural strategies and roosting activity budget of the common bent wing bat ( miniopterus schreibersii ) at the naracoorte caves conservation park . honours thesis , flinders university , adelaide .
the southern bent - wing bat is found in south - east south australia and western victoria ( cardinal & christidis 2000 ) .
the survey guidelines for australia ' s threatened bats ( dewha 2010m ) includes survey methodology for the southern bent - wing bat .
the bent - wing name comes from its unique anatomy - with on the third ' finger ' of its wing the last bone is four times longer than the middle one , giving a bent appearance .
the southern bent - wing bat is a type of microbat , measuring just 52 - 58mm long ( head and body ) and weighing about 15g .
tracking of a single bent - wing bat showed it travelled over 45km from its roosting cave each night to forage , using a known fight path .
the southern bent - wing bat ( miniopterus schreibersii bassanii ) is a small insectivorous bat known to roost in caves near coastal cliffs in south western victoria through to south eastern south australia .
a number of threats to the southern bent - wing bat have been identified , but the severity of their impact is not well understood . threats include :
lumsden , l . & p . gray ( 2001 ) . longevity record for a southern bent - wing bat miniopterus schreibersii bassanii . the australasian bat society newsletter . 16 : 43 - 4 .
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lumsden , l . ( 1998 ) . inspection of the cumberland river cave and its colony of common bent - wing bats , miniopterus schreibersii , with management recommendations , a report to parks victoria , angahook - lorne state park , july 1998 .
friends of parks incorporated – friends of naracoorte caves ( south australia ) received $ 14 745 through the threatened species network community grants in 2008–09 for determining southern bent - wing bat habitat requirements . the project aimed to gain an understanding of the foraging grounds and dispersal of the southern bent - wing bat from its two maternity sites using radio tracking techniques and genetic analysis .
owls , rats ( rattus spp . ) , the feral cat ( felis catus ) and the fox ( vulpes vulpes ) may predate the southern bent - wing bat ( swifft 2007 ) .
the southern bent - wing bat has three main movement patterns : movement to a limited number of maternity caves , dispersal to a larger number of overwintering caves and foraging movements ( kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) .
threatened species scientific committee ( 2007t ) . listing advice for miniopterus schreibersii bassanii , southern bent - wing bat . available from : urltoken . in effect under the epbc act from 19 - dec - 2007 .
wildcard : enter one part of the common or scientific name , e . g . cockatoo ( wildcard characters not required ) .
glenn , c . r . 2006 .
earth ' s endangered creatures - common bentwing bat facts
( online ) - licensed article from wikipedia : the free encyclopedia . accessed
species . both studies concurred that three separate taxa could be described in australia . based on dna and morphological analysis , cardinal and christidis ( 2000 ) , recognised these three taxa as subspecies of bent - wing bat (
hello peppercorn pterodactyls are believed to have been nocturnal like bats have the same wing span and wing formation in so far as the common bentwing bat goes they are nocturnal as you already know they roost in caves feed at night using echolocation for navigating and feeding , therefore eyesight is not a great priority . each species of bat has their own frequency range this is how scientists can distinguish one group from another .
facts summary : the common bentwing bat ( miniopterus schreibersii ) is a species of concern belonging in the species group
mammals
and found in the following area ( s ) : africa , asia , europe , middle east . this species is also known by the following name ( s ) : schreiber ' s bent - winged bat , schreiber ' s long - fingered bat .
zoos victoria is committed to securing a future for the southern bent - wing bat . we are currently investigating the role we can play in improving the long - term viability of a self - sustaining wild population of this species .
threats to the southern bent - wing bat include climate change and loss of habitat due to land grazing , pesticides and human disturbance of roosting caves . there a no specific causes as to why the population has declined so much in the last two decades .
kerr , g . d . & r . s . bonifacio ( 2009 ) . regional action plan for the southern bent - wing bat miniopterus schreibersii bassanii in the south east of south australia . mount gambier , south australia : department for environment and heritage .
gray , p . ( 2001 ) . cave microclimate and population estimates of southern bent - wing bats ( miniopterus schreibersii bassanii ) at starlight cave , warrnambool . report to south - west tafe , warrnambool .
baudinette r . v . , wells r . t . , sanderson k . j . and clark b . 1994 . microclimatic conditions in maternity caves of the bent wing bat , miniopterus schreibersii : an attempted restoration of a former maternity site . wildlife research 21 , 607–619 .
catching diseases from bats is extremely unlikely . australian bat lyssavirus ( abl ) can only be caught from untreated bites or scratches from infected bats . one person has died from lyssavirus from a micro bat ( there has also been a lyssavirus death from a fruit bat ) . at least three species of insectivorous micro bat can carry abl , and all four common species of fruit bats can carry it . members of the public should not handle bats .
southern bent - wing bats are closely related to two other subspecies , the m . schreibersii orianae found in wa and nt , and the m . schreibersii oceanensis , found along the east coast from qld to vic .
the southern bent - wing bat is an insectivorous cave dwelling bat . the subspecies has dark reddish - brown to dark - brown fur on the back , grey - brown fur underneath and pale brown areas of bare skin . it has a distinctive short muzzle , a high crowned / domed head and small eyes . the ears are short , rounded and roughly triangular . head and body length is 52–58 mm , with a forearm length of 45–49 mm . it has the longest wing length of all the vespertilionidae , being nearly two and half times longer than the head and body . the last phalanx on the third finger of the wing is about four times the length of the middle phalanx , giving a bent wing appearance ( churchill 1998 ; hall & woodside 1989 ; menkhorst & lumsden 1995 ) .
the generation length for the southern bent - wing bat is estimated to be five to seven years . lumsden and gray ( 2001 ) recaptured a banded individual 20 . 5 years after it was banded . when recaptured , it was healthy and had recently bred ( lumsden & gray 2001 ) .
dwyer p . d . and hamilton - smith e . 1965 . breeding cave and maternity colonies of the bent - winged bat in south - eastern australia . helictite 4 , 3–21 .
threatened species scientific committee ( 2007s ) . non - current approved commonwealth conservation advice on miniopterus schreibersii bassanii - southern bent - wing bat . available from : urltoken . in effect under the epbc act from 19 - dec - 2007 . ceased to be in effect under the epbc act from 30 - oct - 2015 .
bats have ultrasonic calls that are inaudible to the human ear , however can be identified using special bat detectors and by analysing their unique call sequences . southern bent - wing bats spend their winters in torpor ( a type of hibernation ) across a range of ' wintering ' caves from the otways , to warrnambool and portland .
the southern bent - wing bat roosts underground , predominantly in caves and mines , however , coastal cliff rock crevices , tunnels and road culverts are also used in some areas ( churchill 2008 cited in kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) . the species is likely to be dependent upon the only two known maternity caves ( naracoorte bat cave and starlight cave ) for its survival ( duncan et al . 1999 ) .
threatened species scientific committee ( 2001ac ) . non - current commonwealth listing advice on miniopterus schreibersii ( southern form ) , southern bent - wing bat . available from : urltoken . in effect under the epbc act from 06 - aug - 2001 . ceased to be in effect under the epbc act from 18 - dec - 2007 .
dwyer , p . & e . hamilton - smith ( 1965 ) . breeding caves and maternity colonies of the bent - winged bat in south - eastern australia . helictite . 4 : 3 - 21 .
prepare management plans for significant bat roosts especially all known maternity colonies and winter colonies .
the total population of the southern bent - wing bat has been estimated at 40 870 ( tssc 2007t ) . the population has declined by 67 % since the mid 1990s , when the subspecies was estimated to be 134 500 , consisting of 122 500 from naracoorte bat cave and 12 000 from starlight cave ( reardon 2001 ) . in 1925 , the subspecies was described as ' by no means uncommon ' ( wood jones 1925 ) .
normally harmless , but it is best to avoid handling any bat because they may carry the potentially fatal australian bat lissavirus ( ablv ) , which is transmitted through scratches or bites .
gould ' s long - eared bat in nest box ( photo : l . hogan )
it is possible to have the bat tested for abl . the department / qpws and queensland health will assist with the collection of the bat . if bat saliva gets into your eyes , nose , or mouth or into an open wound , flush thoroughly with water and seek medical advice immediately .
species , such as gould ' s wattled bat have been found to forage up to 15km away from their roost site , and the diadem leafnosed - bat will spend 1½ - 7½ hours foraging each night .
the naracoorte bat cave occurs within naracoorte caves national park which has world heritage status ( tssc 2007t ) .
loss of either one or both maternity roosts , or significant disturbance at critical times , could be catastrophic for the entire population of southern bent - wing bats . disturbance at maternity caves is considered a major threat because it could cause cave abandonment or impact on the breeding success of the population ( tssc 2007t ; duncan et al . 1999 ) .
continue education programs for cave visitors to inform them of bat conservation issues , particularly the effect of cave disturbance .
since 2000 , naracoorte bat cave fly outs have been filmed regularly with a 2008 / 9 population estimate of 20 000 ( kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) . the population in 1963 / 64 was 75 000–150 000 and remained stable until the mid 1990s ( reardon 2001 ) . in the late 1990s , literature on the naracoorte caves reserve claimed that the southern bent - wing bat population using the cave exceeded 400 000 ( bourne 2009 pers . comm . cited in kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) , although naracoorte caves reserve staff agree that this figure is an over exaggeration ( gray 2001 ) .
the speed a bat flies is determined by the shape of their wings , what they eat , and where they find their prey . the common bentwing - bat flies at a speed of up to 50km / h , similar to the speed of a car driving in city streets . other bats have a slow , fluttery flight , and can almost hover .
fast
bats usually feed high above the canopy where there ' s not much to bump into , whilst slower , more manoeuvrable species are found in cluttered environments , such as in rainforest .
if the bat shows signs of paralysis , or has come into contact with a dog or a cat , contact the nearest department of employment , economic development and innovation office as they may wish to inspect the bat . if the bat is dead , use a shovel and / or tongs to remove it and then burn or bury it . do not touch the bat without wearing gloves . if burying it , ensure that the hole is deep enough so that a dog could not dig it up .
most of the population migrates to a limited number of large maternity roost sites in september to october and remain there over the spring and summer . a single young is born between october and january , the timing varying across subspecies / species . females reach sexual maturity the year after they are born and may live for more than 22 years . predators include owls , rats , cats and foxes . the southern bent - wing bat is classed as critically endangered . subspecies are currently being reviewed and could possibly become full species .
if it relates to c3 bats ( a bat that has bitten or scratched a person , or the person has had exposure to the bat’s saliva or neural tissue through their mucous membranes , e . g . eye , skin ) , contact the department .
the southern bent - wing bat ' s extent of occurrence and area of occupancy have diminished since european settlement , with the number of breeding colonies declining from five documented breeding sites ( and possibly more ) to two breeding caves . likely factors contributing to the decline include clearance of native bush including open woodlands in south - east south australia , and human disturbance . no recolonisation of previous breeding caves has occurred despite the considerable period since abandonment , highlighting the potential precariousness of the last two remaining breeding caves ( tssc 2007t ) .
restrict caving activities at significant roosts during important stages of the annual bat life cycle ( eg winter hibernation , summer maternity season ) .
hamilton - smith e . 1972 . the bat population of the naracoorte caves area . australian speleological federation biennial conference proceedings 8 , 66–75 .
the discovery of insecticides in bat guano in naracoorte bat cave , as well as ddt and its metabolites in the bats themselves , suggest that declines may be linked to pollutants . this accumulation may be the result of ingestion of insects exposed to insecticides ( racey & entwistle 2003 ; swifft 2007 ) .
restrict access where possible to known maternity sites . ( e . g . : signs ; bat - friendly , preferably external gates at caves ) .
establish a gating design for disused mines across species range that will not adversely impact species . consultation with cave bat specialist prior to any gating operations .
echolocation is a technique used by bats to ‘see’ their environment through sound . the bats create a pulse of high - pitched sounds , which are normally at frequencies beyond the range of human hearing . the sound waves are created in the bat ' s voice box , and are emitted from the mouth or the nostrils . the echo that comes back to the bat can tell it how far away the object is , as well as it ' s size and texture , and if it ' s moving ! in this way they are able to sense their environment , avoid flying into objects , and find their prey . using an ' ultrasonic bat detector ' can help to identify the bat as well as tell us whether the bat is navigating or feeding .
simpson k . g . and smith g . t . 1964 . bat mandible from mt . widderin cave , skipton . victorian naturalist 81 , 78–79 .
mount etna in the capricorn coast is home to 80 % of australia’s breeding population of female bent - wing bats . living in one single limestone cave , over 110 , 000 of these mummies utilise the space for birthing and rearing their young . you can experience an amazing animal encounter when at dusk , every adult inhabitant heads out of the cave to hunt insects . to find out more info about tour dates to watch this evening show of the bats feeding , head to : urltoken
micro bats rely on echolocation to find insects while flying quickly through the air . they do this with startling efficiency . under controlled conditions a myotis bat ( a small insectivorous bat that lives near waterways ) has been recorded capturing 1200 tiny fruit flies in one hour , one every three seconds , while navigating in the air .
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the australian handbook for the conservation of bats in mines and artificial cave - bat habitats ( thomson 2002 ) provides management guidelines for cave - dwelling species that may inhabit disused mine sites .
reardon , t . b . ( 2001 ) . population size estimates and conservation of the southern bentwing bat ( miniopterus bassanii ) in south australia . report to wildlife conservation fund committee .
simpson , k . g . & g . t . smith ( 1964 ) . bat mandible from mt . widderin cave , skipton . victorian naturalist . 81 : 78 - 79 .
a medium - sized insectivorous bat with a high domed forehead , short muzzle , small rounded ears and long narrow wings . the fur is dark brown or red - brown on the back , becoming lighter underneath . the terminal segment of the third finger is at least three times longer than the previous one and folds under the wing . three subspecies are broadly similar in appearance , but vary in colouration and size ; they are smallest in the north and largest in the south .
thomson , b . ( 2002 ) . australian handbook for the conservation of bats in mines and artificial cave - bat habitats . melbourne : australian centre for mining environmental research . available from : urltoken .
management of disused mines may provide suitable habitat for bats and can play a role in expanding or substituting roosting habitat . assessment of disused mines for bat presence and gauging levels of human interference are necessary steps in determining effective protection measures . a comprehensive publication by the australian centre for mining environmental research ( thompson 2002 ) provides guidelines on how to identify and protect bat conservation values in disused mines ( swifft 2007 ) .
reinhold , l . , t . reardon & m . lara ( 2000 ) . molecular and morphometrical systematics of the australo - papuan miniopterus ( chiroptera : vespertilionidae ) . in : spoken paper 9th australasian bat conference .
micro bats do make some sounds that humans can hear , but these are usually social chatter , alarm calls and communications between mothers and their young at the roost . there are a couple of species that have echolocation calls that people with sharp ears can hear ; these are the yellow - bellied sheathtail bat and the white - striped freetail bat . their calls are a regular a metallic - sounding tick… . tick… . tick… . tick… .
on the return of southern bent - wing bats to their roosting caves , they cluster within the cave with suitable microclimates . during this time they carry out grooming and rest by lowering their body temperature to the ambient temperature and go into a torpor state for a period of hours ( speakman & thomas 2003 ) . in autumn , they have been observed resting 62 % of the time , grooming 16 % and actively moving 22 % . microclimate and position in caves seem to affect behaviour of bats at roost . activity in autumn is bimodal with bats leaving caves at sunset to feed , returning at midnight and leaving again to forage just before dawn ( codd et al . 2003 cited in kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) .
cardinal , b . r . & l . christidis ( 2000 ) . mitochondrial dna and morphology reveal three geographically distinct lineage of the large bentwing bat ( miniopterus schreibersii ) in australia . australian journal of zoology . 48 : 1 - 19 .
around late august , the bats commence their annual migration to one of two maternity caves , bat cave at naracoorte in south australia , and starlight cave at warrnambool , victoria . almost the entire population , including males and females , will make the journey from overwintering caves to the two maternity sites , stopping at transition caves along the way . by october , the migration is complete . the majority of the bats ( 70 % to 90 % depending on the year ) will go to bat cave ( tssc 2007t ) .
racey , p . a . & a . c . entwistle ( 2003 ) . conservation ecology . kunz , t . h . & m . b . fenton , eds . bat ecology . 680 - 743 . the university of chicago press , chicago and london .
beach ball what you can write back to me in your own words of reply is how these winged mouses of nature evolved from the giant flying bird like reptiles pterodactyls . also you can add in response why they have smaller eyes like mouse than their brothers the ghost bat .
in the first week of january 2000 , a mark - recapture study was conducted over three nights at naracoorte bat cave ( reardon 2001 ) . the lincoln index method was used to estimate the total population , although this method has large potential error that can result in overestimation .
speakman , j . r . & d . w . thomas ( 2003 ) . physiological ecology and energetics of bats . kunz , t . h . & m . b . fenton , eds . bat ecology . page ( s ) 430 - 489 . the university of chicago press , chicago and london .
kunz , t . h . & l . f . lumsden ( 2003 ) . ecology of cavity and folage roosting bats . kunz , t . h . & m . b . fenton , eds . bat ecology . page ( s ) 3 - 89 . the university of chicago press , chicago and london .
habitat loss and the disturbance of roost sites are the biggest reason for declining numbers in micro bats . habitat loss , through the clearing of vegetation , inappropriate fire regimes and the invasion of weeds destroys feeding and roosting habitats . some bats form large colonies , and disturbances at roost sites caused by the effects of tourism , mining activities , recreational caving and land clearing can have disastrous impacts on these colonies . this problem is more pronounced in bat species that have specialised requirements for maternity colonies ( where females gather to give birth ) . other bat populations have been affected when mines have been closed or collapsed , blocking access to the bats .
in the summer of 2001 , the total exit flight at naracoorte bat cave on two nights was video taped . these tapes were replayed at slow speed and the number of bats leaving the cave were counted . the cave was checked after the flight to ensure that all or most of the bats had left the cave ( reardon 2001 ) .
it forages in a variety of open and semi - open natural and artificial habitats , including suburban areas . it feeds mainly on moths , and occasionally on flies and spiders . it is a colonial species that roosts almost exclusively in caves and mines , often in large mixed colonies with other cave - dwelling bat species . large and warm caves are preferred . solitary animals and small groups may sometimes occupy other types of shelter . in winter it hibernates in underground sites ( usually large caves with a constant microclimate ) . schreiber ' s bat is a migrant species which changes its roosts frequently , long - distance movements occur occasionally ( longest recorded distance 833 km : hutterer et al . 2005 ) .
if you find a sick , injured or orphaned insectivorous bat , do not touch it . contact your local wildlife care organisation or the rspca qld . they will put you in contact with a licensed and fully vaccinated wildlife rescuer who is trained to handle and care for wildlife . in north queensland you will need to contact the local office of the department or the queensland parks and wildlife service .
foraging areas include forested areas , volcanic plains , wetlands , coastal vegetation ( including beaches ) and urban areas . primary habitat is predominantly woodlands near large natural wetlands , river basins and agricultural areas ( churchhill 1998 ) . the bat is likely to be associated with several epbc - listed ecological communities , including the seasonal herbaceous wetlands ( freshwater ) of the temperate lowland plains , which is listed as critically endangered under the epbc act ( dsewpac 2012t ) .
births occur from late october to late november at bat cave and in early december at starlight cave . after four to five weeks , the young are fully furred and able to fly . from birth to this stage , the young are vulnerable - a fall from the ceiling means almost certain death . the young are fully weaned by their third month , and , together with the adults , begin their dispersal to the overwintering sites ( tssc 2007t ) .
disturbance and loss of underground habitats and pesticide use may threaten this species . in the caucasus , disturbance caused by tourism in caves is a problem ( k . tsytsulina pers . comm . 2005 ) . the cause of recent mass mortality events is unknown . a meeting was held at the 9th european bat conference to discuss these incidents . veterinary investigations in spain did not identify any disease as the cause of the die offs , and there is increasing belief that the die offs are caused by bad weather in late winter / early spring .
each cave has structural characteristics which allow heat and humidity to build up so that conditions are suitable for the nursing of young bats ( dwyer & hamilton - smith 1966 cited in kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) . naracoorte bat cave is a large dome with high relative humidity ( 80 % ) and temperatures of around 30 °c ; which is 10 °c above temperatures in the remainder of the cave ( baudinette et al . 1994 cited in kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) . heat production of the bats seems to be the prime factor affecting the microclimate necessary for breeding ( baudinette et al . 1994 cited in kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) .
most insectivorous bats concentrate on catching and eating their prey in the air , while flying . they may remain airborne for hours at a time . to catch insects that are not flying , some bats will use a special technique called ' gleaning ' to pluck insects off leaves , branches or the ground . to ‘glean’ insects , the bats fly slowly , using echolocation to identify insects on leaves , branches or the ground . some may even perch on branches or on the ground and listen ( without echolocating ) for the sounds of moving insects before attacking . the golden - tipped bat can even pluck spiders straight from their webs !
bats are the only group of mammals that are specifically adapted for flight . there are two types of bats : the micro bats and the mega bats . the micro bats ( also known as insectivorous bats ) , are small to medium - sized bats , weighing from 3g to 150g , and with wingspans of around 25cm . the mega bats ( also known as fruit bats ) weigh up to a kilogram and some have wingspans over one metre . these two groups of mammals are thought to have evolved separately and are regarded as two distinct groups . the micro bats mostly eat insects , while one australian species ( the ghost bat ) is also known to eat frogs , birds , lizards and other mammals - even other small bats .
in south australia , the range and abundance does not appear to have changed in the southern part of its range . however , there have been no records in the last 30 years of the species from north of the naracoorte region . the number of bats currently using the naracoorte bat cave ( 100 , 000–200 , 000 in december ) is similar to estimates from the 1960s . this colony is protected by reservation and managed by the south australian national parks and wildlife service . this reservation has been put in place to manage cave visitation , without which the maternity site would be at risk . other wintering and staging caves have come under increasing pressure through recreational caving activities but there is no evidence yet that such activity has resulted in any adverse effects on the bats .
in africa there are no known threats to the species . in europe , the disturbance and loss of underground habitats and pesticide use may threaten this species . in the caucasus , disturbance caused by tourism in caves is a problem ( k . tsytsulina pers . comm . 2005 ) . the cause of recent mass mortality events is unknown . in 2002 mass mortalities of this species were reported for populations in france , spain and portugal . there are also historical records for such mortalities in italy , australia and a possible incidence in iran . a meeting was held at the 9th european bat conference to discuss these incidents . veterinary investigations in spain did not identify any disease as the cause of the die offs , and there is increasing belief that the die offs are caused by bad weather in late winter / early spring .
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the database is designed to provide information about species and ecological communities listed under the environment protection and biodiversity conservation act 1999 .
it provides information on what the species looks like , its population and distribution , habitat , movements , feeding , reproduction and taxonomic comments . the information has been compiled by summarising information from a range of sources and contributors . at this stage profiles are not available for all species and ecological communities , but will be regularly added to the database .
if you have relevant information to add to the database or believe information is incorrect or out - of - date please send us an email .
scientific : enter start of genus or genus and species e . g . ba go for banksia goodii .
wildcard : enter one part of any word in the community name , e . g . grass ( wildcard characters not required ) .
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all : show all threatened communities ( ignore data typed into the search box ) .
dark brown or red - brown on the back , lighter underneath , high domed forehead , short muzzle , small rounded ears and long narrow wings .
rainforest , sclerophyll forest , woodlands , monsoon forest , open grasslands , mangroves and paperbark forest .
nocturnal and fast flying , preferring to roost in caves , rock crevices , overhangs , road culverts , old mines , bridges and other man - made structures . they feed on moths , beetles and other flying insects . in tropical areas they are active all year , but in the south they enter periods of torpor or hibernation during the colder months .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
hutson , a . m . , racey , p . a . ( chiroptera red list authority ) & temple , h . ( global mammal assessment team )
justification : listed as near threatened . significant population declines and range contractions have been recorded in a number of range states and although it is stable in the balkans and turkey , overall the rate of population decline may approach 30 % ( almost qualifies as vu under a2a ) .
occurs from south - western europe and north and west africa through anatolia and the middle east to the caucasus . in africa it is known from records in north africa ( morocco , algeria , tunisia , libya ) , and west africa ( guinea , sierra leone , liberia , nigeria , cameroon ) . it is patchily distributed over its range in some huge and vulnerable colonies . it typically occurs at altitudes of up to 1 , 400 m asl ( commuting up to 2 , 600 m asl ) .
afghanistan ; albania ; algeria ; armenia ; azerbaijan ; bosnia and herzegovina ; bulgaria ; cameroon ; croatia ; cyprus ; france ( corsica ) ; georgia ; gibraltar ; greece ( east aegean is . , kriti ) ; guinea ; holy see ( vatican city state ) ; hungary ; israel ; italy ( sardegna , sicilia ) ; jordan ; lebanon ; liberia ; macedonia , the former yugoslav republic of ; malta ; monaco ; montenegro ; morocco ; nigeria ; palestinian territory , occupied ; portugal ; romania ; russian federation ; san marino ; serbia ; sierra leone ; slovakia ; slovenia ; spain ( baleares ) ; switzerland ; syrian arab republic ; tunisia ; turkey
in europe , it is protected by national legislation in most range states . there are also international legal obligations for its protection through the bonn convention ( eurobats ) and bern convention in parts of the range where these apply . it is included in annex ii ( and iv ) of the eu habitats and species directive , and hence requires special measures for conservation including designation of special areas for conservation . there is some habitat protection through natura 2000 , and some roosts are already protected by national legislation . there have been a number of life - funded projects for this species in spain , italy , romania and germany . the species is found in many protected areas throughout its range . care is required when fencing caves to minimise mortality . further research is required into the causes of the recent mass mortality events .
to make use of this information , please check the < terms of use > .
for information to assist regulatory considerations , refer to policy statements and guidelines , the conservation advice , the listing advice and / or the recovery plan .
department of the environment , water , heritage and the arts ( 2007 ) .
. canberra : department of the environment , water , heritage and the arts . available from :
recovery plan required , a number of key ongoing threats and the low level of formal protection currently afforded , particularly to the maternity caves , can be better managed with a recovery plan in place ( 05 / 05 / 2008 ) .
survey guidelines for australia ' s threatened bats . epbc act survey guidelines 6 . 1
( department of the environment , water , heritage and the arts ( dewha ) , 2010 ) [ admin guideline ] .
quantifying extinction risk and forecasting the number of impending australian bird and mammal extinctions . pacific conservation biology . ( geyle h . m . , j . c . z . woinarski , g . b . baker , c . r . dickman , g . dutson , d . o . fisher , h . ford , m . holdsworth , m . e . jones , a . kutt , s . legge , i . leiper , r . loyn , b . p . murphy , p . menkhorst , a . e . reside , e . g . ritchie , f . e . roberts , r . tingley & s . t . garnett , 2018 ) .
sensu churchill , s . ( 2008 ) . australian bats . , 2nd edn . ( allen and unwin : sydney . )
the distribution shown is generalised from the departments species of national environmental significance dataset . this is an indicative distribution map of the present distribution of the species based on best available knowledge . some species information is withheld in line with sensitive species polices . see map caveat for more information .
victoria : at the species level , miniopterus schreibersii is listed as threatened under the flora and fauna guarantee act 1988 .
, using allozyme data as well as dna sequencing and morphology , suggests that the subspecies recognised in cardinal and christidis ( 2000 ) should be recognised as a full species .
m . s . bassanii , which occurs in south - east south australia and western victoria .
m . s . orianae , which occurs in northern western australia and northern territory .
m . s . oceanensis , which occurs along the east coast from cape york to southern victoria .
in pomborneit and lorne , victoria , m . s . bassanii and m . s . oceanensis occur as one group and roost together in caves ( appleton n . d . pers . comm . cited in kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) .
the starlight cave population is estimated at 10 000–15 000 in 2004 ( grant & reardon 2004 cited in kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) and 12 000 in 2001 ( grant 2001 cited in kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) . in 1963 / 64 , the population was estimated at 100 000–200 000 ( dwyer & hamilton - smith 1965 ) . all estimates include juveniles ( kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) .
maternity roosts at mt widderin and robertson cave have disappeared due to guano mining in the 1800s while thunder point blowhole has ceased as a maternity roost since its collapse ( kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) .
habitat preference is associated with the availability of foraging areas and proximity to suitable roosting caves .
dispersal from maternal caves is probably related to a decrease in prey availability , although some bats remain in maternal caves ( kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) . overwintering caves are cool , facilitating entry into torpor and reducing the bats ' net energy expenditure ( kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) .
known foraging sites include : deadmans swamp ( eucalypt scrubland and swamp ) ; east , south and north - east of russet ridge ( sparse red gum over pasture and remnant scrub ) ; kay swamp ( ephemeral swamp ) ; kay park ; wirreebilla / durr swamp ; stoney point ; and prospect pines ( grant 2004 cited in kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) .
distances travelled from roosting caves are often less than several kilometres for small microchiropterans and are dependent upon reproductive condition , for instance lactating females travel shorter distances than pregnant females or non - breeding females . where roost sites are located in sub - optimal foraging habitat , the distances travelled may increase by up to 30 km . pregnant females undertake much longer journeys when they fly to maternity caves for giving birth ( kunz & lumsden 2003 ; swifft 2007 ) .
flight is usually fast , typically in open spaces ( dwyer 1969 ) . where there are trees , the species flies just above the canopy to many times the height of the canopy . however , in open country , flight may be 6 m above the ground ( churchill 2008 cited in kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) .
includes loss of wetlands ( including over - exploitation of groundwater ) , degradation of rivers , loss of foraging habitat ( including clearing of linear elements ) and agriculture intensification ( tssc 2007t ; kerr & bonifacio 2009 ) . ninety percent of native vegetation in the subspecies ' range has been cleared ( tssc 2007t ) . revegetation programs to provide feeding habitat and corridors could mitigate the decline ( tssc 2007t ) .
extended low rainfall and impacts on prey availability may cause impacts ( tssc 2007t ) .
during a state of torpor , and particularly over winter when the bats are in a deep hibernation , human disturbance in the form of noise , lights and handling can cause a rise in body temperature and metabolism of body fat , which may reduce survival rates over the period ( swifft 2007 ) . during summer , tourists may enter caves causing bats to flee caves in daylight . repeated disturbance can result in abandonment of the cave . some areas along the coast have been rendered unsuitable , sometimes forcing bats to use smaller caves that are in marginal habitat ( lumsden 1998 ; swifft 2007 ) . cave abandonment most likely causes mortality ( rather than dispersal to other caves ) ( swifft 2007 ) .
wind turbines located near roosting caves ( particularly near a maternity cave ) can kill significant numbers of bats , particularly if the caves attract bats from around the region and there is frequent flying to and from the maternity cave . a full assessment of potential impacts on bats should be part of any development proposal , which includes assessment of flight paths between the maternity cave and roost sites , between maternity cave and feeding sites , and between roost sites and feeding areas ( swifft 2007 ) .
the action plan for australian bats recommends the following recovery actions ( duncan et al . 1999 ) :
repair the collapse of thunder point blowhole and encourage its management by parks victoria .
develop methods for population monitoring at the maternity sites . methods should be non - intrusive and provide annual estimates with defined levels of precision and accuracy . when methods are developed , monitor numbers at the two currently used maternity sites , and undertake regular assessments at thunder point blowhole to monitor any recolonisation of this site subsequent to restoration .
continue education programs for cave visitors about conservation issues , particularly the effect of cave disturbance .
complete genetic studies to determine the eastern limits of the distribution of this subspecies .
churchill , s . k . ( 1998 ) . australian bats . sydney : reed new holland .
department of sustainability , environment , water , population and communities ( dsewpac ) ( 2012t ) . seasonal herbaceous wetlands ( freshwater ) of the temperate lowland plains . species profile and threats database . available from : urltoken .
department of the environment , water , heritage and the arts ( dewha ) ( 2010m ) . survey guidelines for australia ' s threatened bats . epbc act survey guidelines 6 . 1 . canberra : dewha . available from : urltoken .
duncan , a . , g . b . baker & n . montgomery ( 1999 ) . the action plan for australian bats . canberra : environment australia . available from : urltoken .
dwyer , p . d . ( 1969 ) . population ranges of miniopterus schreibersii ( chiroptera ) in south - eastern australia . australian journal of zoology . 17 : 665 - 686 .
hall , l . s . & d . p . woodside ( 1989 ) . vespertilionidae . walton , d . w . & b . j . richardson , eds . fauna of australia . mammalia . 1b : 871 - 886 . canberra : australian government publishing service .
hamilton - smith , e . ( 1968 ) . the insect fauna of mt . widderin cave , skipton , victoria . victorian naturalist . 85 : 294 - 6 .
victoria department of sustainability and environment ( vic . dse ) ( 2005a ) . advisory list of rare or threatened plants in victoria - 2005 . east melbourne , victoria : department of sustainability and environment . available from : urltoken .
wood jones , f . ( 1925 ) . the mammals of south australia , part iii . page ( s ) 271 - 458 . adelaide , government printer .
australian biological resources study , ed . ( 2013 ) . australian faunal directory . australian biological resources study . available from : urltoken .
australian government ( 2015b ) . targeted threatened species projects . available from : urltoken .
commonwealth of australia ( 2001g ) . inclusion of species in the list of threatened species under section 178 of the environment protection and biodiversity conservation act 1999 ( 14 / 07 / 2001 ) . f2005b02661 . canberra : federal register of legislative instruments . available from : urltoken . in effect under the epbc act from 06 - aug - 2001 .
commonwealth of australia ( 2007a ) . inclusion of species in the list of threatened species under section 178 of the environment protection and biodiversity conservation act 1999 ( 57 ) ( 07 / 12 / 2007 ) . f2007l04838 . canberra : federal register of legislative instruments . available from : urltoken . in effect under the epbc act from 19 - dec - 2007 .
commonwealth of australia ( 2007f ) . amendment to the list of threatened species under section 178 of the environment protection and biodiversity conservation act 1999 ( 11 / 04 / 2007 ) . f2007l01219 . canberra : federal register of legislative instruments . available from : urltoken . in effect under the epbc act from 04 - may - 2007 .
geyle h . m . , j . c . z . woinarski , g . b . baker , c . r . dickman , g . dutson , d . o . fisher , h . ford , m . holdsworth , m . e . jones , a . kutt , s . legge , i . leiper , r . loyn , b . p . murphy , p . menkhorst , a . e . reside , e . g . ritchie , f . e . roberts , r . tingley & s . t . garnett ( 2018 ) . quantifying extinction risk and forecasting the number of impending australian bird and mammal extinctions . pacific conservation biology . urltoken
epbc act email updates can be received via the communities for communities newsletter and the epbc act newsletter .
citation : department of the environment ( 2018 ) . miniopterus orianae bassanii in species profile and threats database , department of the environment , canberra . available from : urltoken . accessed tue , 10 jul 2018 04 : 53 : 15 + 1000 .
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english - german online dictionary developed to help you share your knowledge with others . more information ! contains translations by tu chemnitz and mr honey ' s business dictionary ( german - english ) . thanks on that account ! links to this dictionary or to single translations are very welcome ! questions and answers
less than a year after a life - threatening accident , steve plain began his journey to climb the world’s seven summits .
this month we celebrate an event 50 years ago in western new south wales that changed the course of australian history : the discovery of mungo woman .
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with a hefty body , a massive wingspan , and a loud , low - pitched buzz , the tropical carpenter bee can be a pretty intimidating sight .
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it has the longest wingspan of the vespertilionidae family , measuring almost 2 . 5 . times its head / body length .
there are thought to be just under 41 , 000 bats left , after a population decline of 67 per cent since the 1990s . in the 1960s , the population was around 100 , 000 - 200 , 000 .
in the winter months when temperatures drop to just above freezing , the bats go into hibernation in the coolest part of caves .
the bats are insectivorous and use echolocation to find prey at night . they can often catch the prey with their mouths , but they also net prey with their wings or tail and feed themselves mid - flight . they consume more than half their own body weight in insects each night .
two papers by two different teams published in 2004 split the species in three ( appleton et al . 2004 , tian et al . 2004 ) ; only one of these taxa is present in the western palaeartic .
justification : european and eu 25 : classed as near threatened . significant population declines and range contractions have been recorded in a number of range states ; overall the rate of population decline is likely to approach 30 % .
a southern palaearctic species ; patchily distributed over its range in some huge and vulnerable colonies . it typically occurs at altitudes of up to 1 , 400m ( commuting up to 2 , 600m ) .
it is protected by national legislation in most range states . there are also international legal obligations for its protection through the bonn convention ( eurobats ) and bern convention . it is included in annex ii ( and iv ) of the eu habitats and species directive , and hence requires special measures for conservation including designation of special areas for conservation . there is some habitat protection through natura 2000 , and some roosts are already protected by national legislation . there have been a number of life - funded projects for this species in spain , italy , romania and germany .
if the list is long , use the scroll bars to view the complete list .
length of genome ( wu et al . , 2012 , kemenesi et al . , 2015 ) : c . 8 , 457 nt ( 5 ' - utr : 1 , 407 nt ; orf : 6 , 846 nt ; 3 ' - utr : 204 nt ) . 5 ' utr is exceptionally long . the location of the cre has not been identified .
the deduced polyprotein has a length of 2 , 282 aa . there is likely a l protein . 2a is a short fmdv type a - like polypeptide with npg¯p motif .
the divergence ( number of differences per site between sequences ) of known mischivirus species ranges from 0 . 27 - 0 . 57 for p1 and 0 . 2 - 0 . 45 for 3cd .
virus names , the choice of exemplar isolates , and virus abbreviations , are not official ictv designations . download genbank / embl query for sequences listed in the table here .


the kelp gull ( larus dominicanus ) , also known as the dominican gull , is a gull which breeds on coasts and islands through much of the southern hemisphere .

the nominate l. d. dominicanus is the subspecies found around south america , parts of australia ( where it overlaps with the pacific gull ) , and new zealand ( where it is known as the southern black-backed gull or by its māori name karoro ) .

l. d. vetula ( known as the cape gull ) is a subspecies occurring around southern africa .

the specific name comes from the dominican order of friars , who wear black and white habits .

kelp gull

kelp gull : molting juvenile default description kelp gull : molting juvenile kelp gull : winter adult default description kelp gull : winter adult kelp gull : adult default description kelp gull : adult kelp gull : 2nd summer default description kelp gull : 2nd summer related birds lesser black - backed gull great black - backed gull general kelp gull : large and stocky gull with white head , underparts , and tail . more
a kelp gull stands near a newborn seal in namibia ' s dorob national park .
the kelp gull habitually drops molluscs from the air onto rocks to smash them open .
whereas the nominate kelp gull usually has a pale eye . young cape gulls have almost identical plumage to similarly aged kelp gulls . more
the kelp gull is native to south america , australia , parts of africa and the caribbean . the range of this bird species is about 10 million square kilometers . the population of the kelp gull is about 3 . 5 million individual birds . the rating of the kelp gull at this time is least concern . the prior rating for the kelp gull was lower risk , which was downgraded to least concern in 2004 due to the range and population of the kelp gull . there are no known threats facing the range or the population of the kelp gull at this time .
the kelp gull resembles larus pacificus – pacific gull , but the latter has white tail with black subterminal band , and its bill is larger .
aspects of the topic kelp gull are discussed in the following places at britannica . assorted references * description ( in gull ( bird ) ) the kelp gull ( l . dominicanus ) is a very wide - ranging black - backed species of the southern hemisphere , including antarctica . the laughing gull ( l . more
the kelp gull forages on land or in water , rarely in the air . it feeds mainly on fish and crustaceans , but will scavenge when an opportunity arises . like the pacific gull , the kelp gull habitually drops molluscs from midair onto rocks to smash them .
the kelp gull prefers the sheltered parts of coasts such as bays , inlets and estuaries ; also beaches and reefs on off - shore islands . it is likely that the kelp gull is in serious competition with the endemic pacific gull because of their similar habitat , food and habits .
the kelp gull is the second largest gull in the region , being smaller and less bulky than the pacific gull , larus pacificus , and with a less massive bill . its tail is all white , with no black band . immature kelp gulls can also be confused with the vagrant black - tailed gull , larus crassirostris , from japan .
thibaut chansac and stanislas wroza endured a testing day on a paris landfill , eventually clinching an elusive ' black - backed gull ' as france ' s second kelp gull .
kelp gulls occasionally become entangled in fishing lines , are occasionally illegally shot , and have been poisoned . in new zealand , the kelp gull was regularly eated by the maori .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus dominicanus ) adult , february 28 2009 , maitencillo , chile . picture : josé canas .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus vetula ) adult , may 17 2015 , maputo , mozambique . picture : ross hughes .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus veltula ) adult , june 30 2007 , south africa . picture : j . avise .
the latest sighting details and map for kelp gull are only available to our birdguides ultimate or our birdguides pro subscribers .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus dominicanus ) adult , january 13 2012 , elqui prov . chile . picture : blass bass .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus dominicanus ) adult , february 21 2015 , muriwai , new zealand . picture : christina port .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus vetula ) 2nd cycle , april 26 2015 , maputo , mozambique . picture : gary allport .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus vetula ) adult , june 2012 , cape town , south africa . picture : chris gibbins .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus vetula ) adult , july 25 2007 , kommetjie , south africa . picture : graham ekins .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus dominicanus ) adult , september 09 2009 , bahia inglesa , chile . picture : jason quinn .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus dominicanus ) adult , november 26 2011 , isla magdalena , chile . picture : antonio vaccarini .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus dominicanus ) adult , november 08 2006 , karoro , new zealand . picture : brian gratwicke .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus veltula ) adult , january 06 2012 , neko harbour , antarctic peninsula . picture : michael shepard .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus dominicanus ) adult , march 16 2014 , petorca prov . , chile . picture : gonzalo vergara .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus vetula ) adult , september 25 2010 , hout bay , south africa . picture : dick daniels .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus vetula ) adult , february 24 2015 , walbis bay , namibia . picture : rafael g . sánchez .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus dominicanus ) adult , april 18 2008 , la perouse , sidney , australia . picture : mr troy .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus dominicanus ) adult , june 02 2009 , la perouse , sidney , australia . picture : mr troy .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus vetula ) adult , july 17 2012 , cape cross seal reserve , namibia . picture : tom heijnen .
an adult kelp gull or cape gull ( larus dominicanus vetula ) found and photographed today , 25 january , at the fish factory of anza near agadir by arie ouwerkerk and jacob jan de vries .
the yelping ' yo - yo - yo - yo ' call of the kelp gull is used in many films with coastal or marine scenes .
the races “ judithae ” and “ melisandae ” were described in 2002 , and evaluated as kelp gull’s subspecies on the basis of morphological characters .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus dominicanus ) adult , january 09 2014 , robert island , south shetland islands , antarctica . picture : david cook .
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the kelp gull occurs in coastal bays , beaches , inlets and estuaries and on off - shore islands . they are often seen scavenging at refuse tips
quintana rd , travaini a ( 2000 ) characteristics of nest sites of skuas and kelp gull in the antarctic peninsula . j field ornithol 71 : 236–249
normally , the kelp gull is expected at khniffiss lagoon and along the southern moroccan atlantic coast , but they do occur north of khniffiss as well .
this subspecies differs markedly from other kelp gull subspecies , especially in skull structure ( a notably flatter crown ) , and some texts ( examples will foolow ) treat this form as a distinct species , known as cape gull . however there is no molecular evidence to support this and we follow urban et al . in treating it as a subspecies of kelp gull larus dominicanus .
* the kelp gull is the only gull of the southern ocean . * kelp gulls are aggressive predators taking every opportunity to rob other birds ' nests of both eggs and small chicks . description & characteristics : the kelp or dominican gull lives on the antarctic peninsula and at most sub - antarctic islands , where it is resident year - round , generally in small numbers . they are also broadly distributed throughout southern africa , australasia and south america . more
the kelp gull is a large black - backed gull with a white tail and a large yellow bill with a red spot on the lower tip . it is the second largest gull in australia . the wing has a wide trailing edge and a small white ' window ' in the wingtip . newly - fledged kelp gulls are brown with paler mottling on the hind neck and breast and have a black bill . immature kelp gulls have mottled brown wings and back with a whitish body and an all - yellow bill . the kelp gull is gregarious , and tends to roost , feed and breed in flocks .
the kelp gull is classified as least concern . does not qualify for a more at risk category . widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category .
kelp gull , larus dominicanus vetula , in flight . kelp gull in flight at houtbay harbor . the nominate race of the kelp gull ( larus dominicanus ) occurs along the coasts of south america , new zealand , australia and many islands in the southern ocean . the subspecies found along the southern african coastline , l . d . vetula , is currently thought to be sufficiently different from the nominate race that it ought to be regarded as a full species . more
in some areas the kelp gull is considered a ‘nuisance’ species , often concentrated close to cities and thought to pose a potential health threat to humans , leading to calls for its populations to be controlled . however , no kelp gull colonies are currently under any kind of management ( 7 ) . it is also thought that increasing kelp gull populations could have a negative effect on other coastal wildlife , for example through increased harassment of other sea birds ( 7 ) ( 8 ) . more
blackish upperparts and thick bill in kelp gull give it a great black - backed gull impression . kelp gull is quick in attaining a dark saddle , where great black - backed gull keep anchor - patterned scapulars for a prolonged period . also , kelp gull remain to show very limited white in the primaries ( either the tips and the mirror , see picture below ) , while great black - backed gull quickly develop a mirror on p10 ( in 2nd gen p10 ) and normally develop large white tips , even obvious on outermost primaries in many immature birds . a very small mirror on p10 and absence of a p9 mirror in adult kelp gull give it a completely different , dark , wingtip impression when compared to adult great black - backed ( which has a merged mirror and white tip on p10 and always a very large mirror on p9 as well in adult plumage ) .
kelp gull ( larus dominicanus vetula ) adult , november 07 2012 , kenton - on - sea , eastern cape , south africa . picture : wikipedia - snowmanradio .
crawford rjm , cooper j , shelton pa ( 1982 ) distribution , population size , breeding and conservation of the kelp gull in southern africa . ostrich 53 : 164–177
the african subspecies l . d . vetula is sometimes split as the cape gull , l . vetula . it has a more angular head and a smaller shorter bill . the adult has a dark eye , whereas the nominate kelp gull usually has a pale eye . young cape gulls have almost identical plumage to similarly aged kelp gulls .
subspecies and range : the kelp gull can be considered a monotypic species , awaiting more information about the subspecies . however , the 5 currently recognized races can be mentioned .
good t ( 2002 ) breeding success in the western gull × glaucous - winged gull complex : the influence of habitat and nest - site characteristics . condor 104 : 353–365
kelp gull dominicanus 2nd cycle , december 10 2012 , australia ( mick ) . upperparts tone equals great black - backed gull , but this taxon has much more black in the wingtip ( marinus in this plumage would show large mirrors already ) . note yellowish legs .
the kelp gull occurs on coasts and islands through much of the southern hemisphere from new zealand and most sub - antarctic islands , the antarctic peninsula , south america , and africa .
kelp gull dominicanus 2nd cycle , september 24 2011 , lima , peru ( john turner ) . upperparts tone equals great black - backed gull , but this taxon has much more black in the tail , plain brown coverts , bright yellow on bill and lacking pale primary tips .
introduction : the kelp gull is present through much of the southern hemisphere . according to the authors , 4 or 5 subspecies are recognized , but kelp gull’s taxonomy is still in a state of uncertainty . as this species has extremely wide range , more subspecies might be added in the future . however , you will find on this page numerous pictures from several locations in the southern hemisphere .
in many cases , once a gull pecks out the eyeballs , other kelp gulls join in and begin to eat the seal’s exposed areas , such as its underbelly and genitals , the scientists observed .
the kelp gull breeds on islands , both oceanic and offshore , on headlands , cliffs above the sea , beaches , pastures and lava fields according to the range , and even in urban areas .
kelp gull dominicanus adult , june 30 2007 , south africa . picture : j . avise . upperparts tone equals great black - backed gull , but this taxon has much more black in the wingtip , with just a tiny mirror on the outer primary . often yellowish legs and dark iris .
kelp gull in flight , andean mountains above ushuaia in the background , larus dominicanus , beagle channel purchase a print of this imagehow to request , purchase or license this imageadd to light table sea birds ( likely western and / or heermanns gulls ) on drift kelp , open ocean , larus occidentalis , larus heermanni , san diego , california purchase a print of this imagehow to request , purchase or license this imageadd to light table kelp gull in flight , andean mountains above ushuaia in the background . more
a bird calling while standing on a beach . an immature pacific gull can also be heard .
the kelp gull is resident in many parts of australia , in others it is dispersive although this varies from colony to colony . in some colonies , parts of the population are apparantly resident or sedentary .
the kelp gull first become established in australia in the 1940s . their numbers increased rapidly and they are now found in many parts of the south - east and south - west coasts of mainland australia .
in the study , kelp gulls were successful in plucking out eyeballs in roughly 50 percent of observed attacks .
kelp gull is the dominant large gull species of south america . it is common throughout the southern part of the continent and extending north along the coasts to ecuador in the west and brazil in the east , though it is also known as a vagrant and occasional breeder north to the united states as well . large , with very dark black upperparts and pale yellow - green legs , this gull is easily distinguished from other gulls in its range . kelp gulls feed on a variety of land and marine animals and also attend refuse dumps .
researchers speculate that the kelp gull population increased decades ago with the development of fish processing in the area . waste from processing plants may have attracted gulls into the area , which then learned to get more food from whales .
burger j , gochfeld m ( 1981 ) nest site selection by kelp gulls in southern africa . condor 83 : 243–251
management and research actions suggested to address these problems include monitoring of kelp gull colonies , particularly close to urban areas , as well as an evaluation of the effects of the gulls on other coastal species , and more careful treatment and disposal of refuse , sewage and fish offal , to discourage scavenging and to help control gull numbers ( 7 ) . given the kelp gull’s abundance and large range , and its presence in many protected coastal areas , the threats to the species are not thought likely to pose any conservation problems in the near future ( 7 ) .
kelp gull prey on and scavenge molluscs , fish , crustaceans , other seabirds , and even their own chicks and eggs . they are opportunistic , and their diet varies with season and among localities depending on the availability of food .
physical description & related species : kelp gull have a white head , neck , underbody , rump and tail . the saddle and upperwing is slate - black with a white leading edge . the wingspan is 106 - 142 cm . the yellow bill has a rounded red subterminal spot at the gonys . distribution & abundance - distribution : kelp gull are broadly distributed in the subantarctic to subtropical regions , where sea surface temperatures range from 0° to 23° c . more
54–65 cm ; 810–1335 g ; wingspan 128–142 cm . four - year gull . intermediate in size and build between
kelp gulls are eating the eyeballs from newborn cape fur seals—a behavior never before seen in nature , a new study says .
in some areas the kelp gull is considered a ‘nuisance’ species , often concentrated close to cities and thought to pose a potential health threat to humans , leading to calls for its populations to be controlled . however , no kelp gull colonies are currently under any kind of management ( 7 ) . it is also thought that increasing kelp gull populations could have a negative effect on other coastal wildlife , for example through increased harassment of other sea birds ( 7 ) ( 8 ) . in particular , this gull has recently developed the habit of gouging skin and blubber from the backs of southern right whales , opening up lesions and causing the whales to take evasive action ( 2 ) ( 8 ) . it is feared that increasing harassment may compromise calf development and even cause the whales to leave the affected areas ( 8 ) .
the latest sighting details and map for cape gull are only available to our birdguides ultimate or our birdguides pro subscribers .
cape gull ( larus dominicanus vetula ) , anza , morocco , 25 january 2016 . ( jacob jan de vries )
known widely as ‘kelp gull’ in other countries , the same species is also common in similar latitudes around the southern hemisphere , including southern australia , south america , southern africa , and most subantarctic and peri - antarctic islands , and the antarctic peninsula .
the kelp gull breeds in colonies , occasionally as isolated pairs . they are monogamous , but the pair - bonds last about one year , from one season to the next breeding period . they usually strengthen the bond by courtship feeding during the winter . the colonies are noisy . alarm calls are given as soon as predators are approaching . the gulls may perform communal mobbing and attack in active defence . the kelp gull is territorial and defends an area around the nest , because cannibalism occurs towards the chicks of the neighbour nests .
the kelp gull is a large bird with slate - black wings , a white head and body , and an all - white tail . the underwing is white , tipped black , and the dark upperwing bears a white bar , with white markings on the wing tips . the beak is yellow , with a conspicuous red spot on the lower mandible , and the yellow eye is surrounded by an orange - red ring ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) . the pale eyes , together with greenish - yellow rather than yellow legs , and a larger , more robust body , help distinguish the kelp gull from the similar - looking lesser black - backed gull ( larus fuscus ) ( 2 ) ( 5 ) . the male and female kelp gull are similar in appearance ( 3 ) , while non - breeding adults have brown mottling on the head and neck ( 2 ) . juveniles are dark brown and mottled , with a blackish tail , dark beak , brownish legs and brown eyes ( 2 ) ( 3 ) . adult plumage is usually attained by the fourth year ( 2 ) . the kelp gull’s call is a loud ki - ok , and the alarm call is a short , repeated pok ( 5 ) .
the kelp gull nests in loose colonies or scattered single pairs on off - shore islands where breeding birds maintain large territories against other gulls . the nests of kelp gulls can be a well - made bowl of plants stems , grasses and seaweeds or a loose pile of material on the ground , near rocks or in a tussock . both the adults build the nest , incubate the eggs , brood and feed the young .
calls and songs : sounds by xeno - canto the kelp gull utters strident “kee - och” , and we can also hear melancholy “yo - yo - yo - yo - yo” and repeated “kwee - ah , kwee - ah , kwee - ah” . it is noisy during the breeding season and while feeding , but also during aggressive interactions . calls and songs are fairly similar to those of other gull species .
a new study suggests that increased attacks by kelp gulls on southern right whale calves could be contributing to an observed increase in mortality among the latter .
“it’s a cruel way to go , ” says gallagher . but from the gull’s point of view , it’s a “beautifully strategic attack . ”
southern black - backed gull . adult . boulder bank , nelson , january 2008 . image © rebecca bowater fpsnz by rebecca bowater fpsnz urltoken
garcía borboroglu p , yorio p ( 2004a ) habitat requirements and selection by kelp - gulls in central and northern patagonia , argentina . auk 121 : 243–252
protection / threats / status : the kelp gull has large range and it is common and conspicuous in most part of its distribution . the overall population is increasing with agriculture and fishery expansion . it is often considered a pest in urban areas , and might have negative effect on the coastal wildlife , through harassment and predation towards other bird species and small animals . the falkland’s population is about 30 , 000 breeding pairs . the global population is estimated to number 3 , 300 , 000 / 4 , 300 , 000 individuals . the kelp gull is not currently threatened , and evaluated as least concern .
the kelp gull is the second largest of australia ' s gulls ( 550 - 580 mm ) . adults have a white head , neck , underbody , rump and tail . the upperparts and wing are black with a white leading edge . the yellow bill has a red spot on the lower tip .
kelp gulls are opportunistic omnivores and will scavenge as well as prey on molluscs , fish , crustaceans , other seabirds , and even their own chicks and eggs .
fordham ra ( 1964 ) breeding biology of the southern black - backed gull . i . pre - egg and egg stage . notornis 11 : 3–34
jehl jr jr , mahoney sa ( 1987 ) the roles of thermal environments and predation in habitat choice in the california gull . condor 89 : 850–862
recent populations of kelp gulls have increased in some locations perhaps due to human subsidies : trawler fish discards , scraps from fish processing plants , and coastal rubbish piles .
though , so perhaps it’s wisest to stick with kelp gull for the time being… according to urltoken “kelp gulls breed in namibia and south africa ; there are large colonies between cape cross and the islands in algoa bay , with occasional nests recorded as far north as cape fria and as far east as the great fish river . along the west coast , nonbreeding birds occur north to luanda , angola , and along the east coast as far as the limpopo river mouth in mozambique . more
while many larid species have benefited from the presence of people , two tern and one gull species have become endangered . least and roseate terns are threatened by destruction and disturbance of their nest sites on sand bars and beaches while the sharp decline of the ivory gull could be related to pollution and global warming .
bird was a kelp gull , knowing well the possibility of a hybrid such as
chandaleur
gulls . below is my own description of this bird ( written at 7 pm , 8 nov 2008 ) , independent of any discussions with ron after the initial sighting and independent of examining any reference books / sources . overall impression : this was a large , dark - backed gull in adult plumage . it was significantly larger than the laughing and franklin ' s gulls in the area . more
the vetula subspecies of kelp gull breed on 81 known localities on the coast of southern africa from ilha dos tigres in southern angola , along the namibian and atlantic coasts of south africa , round the cape as far east as the riet river , near port alfred on the indian ocean coast in the eastern cape province of south africa ( ref : roberts birds of southern africa ) . this gull is also colonising inland locations up to 10km from the coast on the skeleton coast in namibia .
miskelly , c . m . 2013 . southern black - backed gull . in miskelly , c . m . ( ed . ) new zealand birds online . urltoken
native to coastlines of the southern hemisphere , this big gull was a shock to birders when it began showing up in north america in the late 1980s . from 1989 into the 1990s , several adults were present on the chandeleur islands , in the gulf of mexico off the coast of louisiana . a few pairs even nested there , and other kelp gulls interbred with herring gulls on the islands , producing hybrids . during the 1990s , a few kelp gulls wandered elsewhere in north america , including texas , maryland , and indiana , and there have been scattered records since then . “pure” kelp gulls may not occur on the chandeleur islands any more , but some apparent hybrids are still wandering in the gulf of mexico .
the kelp gull breeds on coasts and islands through much of the southern hemisphere . it is found on a number of subantarctic islands , on the antarctic peninsula , on the southern coast of australia and all of new zealand , on the southern cost of africa and madagascar , and on the coast of south america as far north as ecuador and southern brazil 1 .
habitat : the kelp gull usually occurs along the coasts , especially in south africa . but throughout the range , it also frequents large inland lakes in the andes of argentina . it also feeds and roosts around lakes , including smaller mountain lakes in new zealand . it also frequents reservoirs , estuaries and rivers . it can be seen in farmland and lawns too .
kelp gull : widespread along coasts and on islands throughout the southern hemisphere , occurring in southern africa , madagascar , australia , new zealand , south america and the falkland islands , as well as on antarctica and many sub - antarctic islands . found in a variety of habitats including harbors , bays , inlets , estuaries , beaches and rocky shores . accidental in maryland .
the yelping ' yo - yo - yo - yo ' call of the kelp gull is used in many films with coastal or marine scenes . facts and figures research species : no minimum size : 49 cm maximum size : 62 cm average size : 57 cm average weight : 940 g breeding season : september to december . clutch size : two to three . more
ty - jour ti - taxonomy of the kelp gull larus dominicanus lichtenstein inferred from biometrics and wing plumage pattern , including two previously undescribed subspecies t2 - bulletin of the british ornithologists ' club . vl - 122 ur - urltoken pb - british ornithologists ' club , cy - london : py - 2002 sp - 50 ep - 71 sn - 0007 - 1595 er -
kelp gull dominicanus adult , january 06 2012 , antarctic peninsula ( michael shepard ) . birds on the southern hemisphere are in complete moult in our winter months . here moult in inner primaries p1 new , p2 groiwng , p5 - p10 old . dark as marinus , but much more black in wingtip with just a small mirror on p10 and full broad band on p5 .
fordham , r . a . 1968 . dispersion and dispersal of the dominican gull in wellington , new zealand . proceedings of the new zealand ecological society 15 : 40 - 50 .
in the subantarctic , kelp gulls lay three eggs in november to december . incubation and fledging periods are 23–30 days and 45–61 days , respectively . parents sometimes continue to feed their chicks after fledging .
l . d . vetula is found on the coasts of south africa and namibia . this race has greyer legs and feet , and dark brown eyes . it is known as cape gull .
the kelp gull is widespread along coasts and on islands throughout the southern hemisphere , occurring in southern africa , madagascar , australia , new zealand , south america and the falkland islands , as well as on antarctica and many subantarctic islands ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 6 ) . although largely sedentary , some southern populations migrate north outside of the breeding season ( 2 ) ( 3 ) .
rowntree , v . j . ( 1998 ) increased harassment of right whales ( eubalaena australis ) by kelp gulls ( larus dominicanus ) at península valdés , argentina . marine mammals science , 14 : 99 - 115 .
the kelp gull breeds between september and january , in colonies numbering from one to several hundred pairs ( 2 ) ( 6 ) . the species is monogamous , with pair bonds usually maintained from one breeding season to the next , and strengthened by courtship feeding during winter months . both adults help to incubate the eggs and raise the chicks ( 4 ) . the nest , built on bare rock , sand or mud , often in a well - vegetated site , is a large and bulky structure , constructed from dried vegetation or seaweed ( 2 ) ( 4 ) ( 6 ) . around 3 eggs are laid ( 2 ) ( 4 ) , which hatch after 24 to 30 days , the young kelp gulls fledging approximately 7 weeks later ( 2 ) . kelp gulls begin to breed from around three to four years old , and may live for 20 years ( 4 ) .
there is one common issue in peninsular valdes that i feel is important to highlight . in puerto madryn there was a fish processing factory that for many years had uncovered waste sites and this led to a massive boom in the kelp gull population . the numbers got that big that eventually more and more birds started to copy an originally small number of kelp gulls who fed on the whales by landing on a whale as it was at the surface and pecking through the skin and into the blubber . after this behaviour was first noticed there were campaigns for the fish factory to dispose of the waste more responsibly and now they move it a few kilometres further inland .
a melancholy
yo - yo - yo - yo - yo
which is unlike the call of any other tasmanian gull and will sound familiar as part of the soundscape of films and movies set on coastlines .
a common , widespread species with a large global population , the kelp gull is not currently considered globally threatened ( 2 ) ( 6 ) , and may even have increased with the expansion of agriculture and fisheries ( 2 ) . potential threats to the species include oil spills , diseases such as avian cholera and avian botulism , mortality from interactions with trawler warp cables , persecution by humans , and disturbance at breeding sites ( 6 ) ( 7 ) .
behaviour in the wild : the kelp gull is an opportunistic feeder like numerous laridae . it feeds on a variety of aquatic preys such as fish , molluscs , worms , echinoderms , arthropods , but also reptiles , amphibians , birds , small mammals and occasionally berries . it is also a scavenger and can be seen at rubbish and sewage , and carrion and fish offal . but this gull may sometimes take sickly lamb and young poultry . it is able to attack and kill adult birds as large as geese . it often follows the fishing boats and forages around the slaughterhouses and seafood factories . it is known for stealing food from other seabirds , laridae and also spheniscidae .
larids are found near fresh and salt water throughout north america but are most common near large bodies of water . even marsh nesters such as the franklin ' s gull and black tern spend the winter in coastal areas .
during the past 15 years , scientists have logged around 500 instances of kelp gulls ( larus dominicanus ) attacking and attempting to eat the eyeballs of newborn cape fur seals ( arctocephalus pusillus pusillus ) in namibia ’s coastal dorob national park ( map ) .
kelp gulls are broadly distributed in the subantarctic to subtropical regions , where sea surface temperatures range from 0° to 23° c . they can mostly be seen off the new zealand coasts and islands , and along the south and south - east australian coasts .
great black - backed gull ( marinus ) 2nd cycle , february 02 2012 , ijmuiden , the netherlands ( mars muusse ) . no blackish saddle . 2nd gen primaries with rounded pale tips . limited black in tail . chequered coverts .
kelp gulls have a white head , neck , underbody , rump and tail . the saddle and upperwing is slate - black with a white leading edge . the wingspan is 106–142 cm . the yellow bill has a rounded red subterminal spot at the gonys .
the displays are accompanied by calls . the most frequent is the “long - call” , often given from the ground or sometimes while flying . the gull raises the head and gradually lowers it while uttering a series of long notes . this display is usually followed by “head - tosses” during which the gull throws the head up over its back while giving a plaintive note . once the pair is formed , both mates call and display every day , and courtship feeding is frequently observed .
burger , j . , gochfeld , m . , garcia , e . f . j . & kirwan , g . m . ( 2018 ) . kelp gull ( larus dominicanus ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
gulls , terns , and the black skimmer are all migratory with the larger gulls migrating short distances to open water and the sabine ' s gull , terns , and black skimmer undertaking incredible journeys to the seas and rivers of the southern hemisphere .
yorio , p . , bertellotti , m . , gandini , p . and frere , e . ( 1998 ) kelp gulls larus dominicanus breeding on the argentine coast : population status and relationship with coastal management and conservation . marine ornithology , 26 : 11 - 18 .
the kelp gull has become established in australia since the 1940s , with the first breeding recorded on moon island near lake macquarie in new south wales in 1958 . their numbers have increased rapidly since the 1960s and they are now common in many parts of the south - east and south - west coasts , and especially in tasmania . it is widespread in new zealand , and is found on most sub - antarctic islands , as well as on islands south of the antarctic convergence and the antarctic peninsula , south america , and africa .
the southern black - backed gull ( or ‘black - back’ ) is one of the most abundant and familiar large birds in new zealand , although many people do not realise that the mottled brown juveniles ( mistakenly called “mollyhawks” ) are the same species as the immaculate adults . found on or over all non - forested habitats from coastal waters to high - country farms , this is the only large gull found in new zealand . they are particularly abundant at landfills , around ports and at fish - processing plants .
kelp gulls nest on beaches , among rocks , grassy headlands , ledges , glacial moraines and offshore islets . the shapes and materials of the nests vary due to location . they construct bowls or conical mounds or shallow scrapes in sand with grass , seaweed , sticks , shells and debris .
mainly inhabiting coastal regions , the kelp gull can be found in a variety of habitats including harbours , bays , inlets , estuaries , beaches and rocky shores , and usually forages within about ten kilometres of the shore ( 6 ) . it may also venture inland , visiting lakes , lagoons , rivers , streams and reservoirs , as well as pastures , cultivated land , grassland and scrubland . breeding usually takes place on headlands , sea cliffs , beaches , offshore islands , pastures , or even on roofs in urban areas ( 2 ) ( 6 ) .
@ article { bhlpart81344 , title = { taxonomy of the kelp gull larus dominicanus lichtenstein inferred from biometrics and wing plumage pattern , including two previously undescribed subspecies } , journal = { bulletin of the british ornithologists ' club . } , volume = { 122 } , copyright = { in copyright . digitized with the permission of the rights holder . } , url = urltoken publisher = { london : british ornithologists ' club , 1893 - } , author = { } , year = { 2002 } , pages = { 50 - - 71 } , }
“once one gull figures out a fast food meal like cape fur seal eyeballs , other gulls observe and quickly learn the new feeding behavior , ” jewell says . ( also see
cute killers ? gray seals maul , suffocate seals and porpoises , studies say .
)
l . d . dominicus ( here described ) is found on the coasts of s south america and islands such as the falklands and south georgia . but it is also present in new zealand and australia . it is known as southern black - backed gull in new zealand .
kelp gulls are predominantly white birds with a brownish / black wing slate , bright yellow beak with a red spot near the tip and their eyes are dark brown with an orange eye ring . they can grow to 65cm in height , 1kg in weight and have a wing span of 128 - 142cm .
reproduction of this species : the breeding season varies , depending on the range , but usually occurs between september and january . they breed in december in the falklands and at any time on offshore islands . the kelp gull breeds in colonies , from dozens ( at range’s edges ) to several hundreds of pairs . the nest is built on rocks or sand , in well vegetated areas . it is often placed under the protection of rock , bush or tree , or any vertical structure . this is a bulky nest made with dried plants and seaweeds . it is lined with softer vegetation .
similar species : adults unmistakeable apart from possible vagrant pacific gull from australia ( which has a more massive bill , and a black subterminal tip to tail ) . juveniles may be confused with the more robust brown skua , which has broader wings with a pale flash at the base of the primaries .
the diet of the kelp gull ( larus dominicanus ) , its foraging behaviour and the consumption rates on the antarctic limpet ( nacella concinna ) were studied during austral spring and summer 1992 / 1993 and 1993 / 1994 at potter peninsula , king george island , antarctica . prey information was obtained by collecting 237 pellets , foraging behaviour was observed by focal and instantaneous scan samplings , and consumption rate was estimated by means of weekly sampling of limpets found in 5 nests and their respective middens . limpets were the most important prey followed by scavenged prey ( penguin and seal carcasses ) , amphipods , snails , fish and euphausiids . foraging gulls spent 51 % of the time searching for limpets , 10 % moving between foraging areas , 9 % in catching effort and 15 % handling prey . the number of gulls observed searching for limpets was inversely correlated with the tidal height . in the diet limpets provide 102 . 3 , 159 . 4 and 188 . 1 kj gull −1 day −1 during incubation , hatching and brooding respectively ; these values range between 15 and 27 % , with a maximum of 40 % , of the basic daily energy requirements of kelp gulls . total consumption rate estimations for the whole population of gulls at potter peninsula reached between 3400 and 4800 limpets day −1 , which represents approximately 10–14 % of the total annual limpet mortality .
the familiar large gull throughout new zealand . adults have white head and underparts with black back , yellow bill with red spot near tip of lower mandible , and pale green legs . juveniles are dark mottled brown with black bill and legs ; their plumage lightens with age until they moult into adult plumage at 3 years old .
a large black - and - white gull with a white head and underparts , black back , yellow bill with a red spot near the tip , and pale green legs . juveniles are dark mottled brown with black bill and legs ; their plumage lightens with age until they moult into adult plumage at 3 - years - old .
great black - backed gull ( marinus ) adult , 2009 - 2011 , acer port , israel . ( amir ben dov ) . note very large white tips on p10 ( no sub - terminal black ) and on p9 ( black band broken ) and no black on p5 . very powerful , huge massive bill and beady eye .
the kelp gull is resident in the falklands , with some dispersion around the islands . the birds of antarctica ( race “austrinus” ) remain in their range all year round . they can be seen in open water away from the pack ice . in australia , the non - breeding birds disperse to queensland , and along the s coast . the new zealand birds remain in their breeding areas and perform only some n movements . in africa ( race “vetula” ) , the non - breeding gulls move as far as mozambique on e coast , and mauritania and s morocco on w coats . although being largely sedentary , some of the southern populations migrate n outside the breeding season . the flight is powerful , fast and agile , with slow , steady wingbeats .
kelp gulls nest on beaches , among rocks , grassy headlands , ledges and offshore islands . the nest is a bowl of grasses and plants stems or a shallow scrape in sand lined with seaweed , shells and debris . the female usually lays 2 or 3 eggs . both parents feed the young birds . chicks peck at red spot on the parent ' s beak to stimulate the regurgitation reflex .
the adult is a typical gull with black upperparts and white tail . on the black upperwing , the trailing edge is white and the wing tip shows white patches . head , neck , nape , tail and underparts are white . the bill is yellow with red gonydal angle . the eyes are yellow , surrounded by red or orange eyering . legs and webbed feet are greenish - yellow ( mostly greyer in africa ) .
adult gulls and terns are for the most part pale - colored birds plumaged in gray , white , and black with dark plumages predominating in the black tern and noddy species . other colors are limited to orange and yellow ( in the bills and feet ) and pink hues in the plumage of the ross ' s gull and roseate tern . immature gulls of most species cycle through years of a seemingly bewildering number of gray , brown , and black streaked plumages .
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however the problem hasn’t gone away and is specific to the area . it is especially bad because the seagulls target the calves more as they have to spend more time at the surface , so it was quite common to see calves with a lot of scarring along their backs . this leaves the animals prone to infection which can cause death , but it also disturbs the animals when they are taking milk which can mean they don’t get enough and don’t grow as big before it is time to set off to the feeding grounds in antarctica before the summer arrives . scientists have been studying this behaviour for a few years now and it is a complex problem that is not simple to solve and unfortunately man made . not all of the kelp gulls display this behaviour , i witnessed many gulls fly close to whales and simply fly off , but i also witnessed gulls that would arrive to attack the whale , quite often after a while had given up its location by breaching or tail slapping .
seagulls have developed a hunting strategy never before seen in the animal world—eating the eyeballs of live seal pups , a new study says .
since blinded seals can ' t find help from other seals and easily succumb to more attacks , the birds have discovered removing eyeballs is an especially efficient way to get a meal .
the behavior seems to be entirely new to science—if a little tough to stomach , says study lead author austin gallagher , a postdoctoral researcher at carleton university in ottawa , canada . ( also see
gulls be gone : 10 ways to get rid of pesky birds .
)
“it is not a pleasant behavior to observe , as the seals completely freak out and make a lot of noise , ” says gallagher , whose study was published august 14 in the african journal of marine science .
for one , the babies can’t swim and have to rely on their mother’s milk , says michelle jewell , a behavioral ecologist at the royal netherlands institute for sea research who wasn ' t involved in the new research .
to supply that milk , the mother seals must occasionally go hunt fish , leaving the pups alone at the colony for several days . the unprotected pups might then fall prey to land predators such as lions and hyenas—and now , seagulls .
“a blind seal cannot forage , cannot find mom , and will get attacked by other gulls , ” says gallagher . ( also see
baby harp seals being drowned , crushed amid melting ice .
)
a snail will make a nice snack for a seagull , if it can figure out how to crack the shell open .
gallagher believes it ' s likely a result of an increase in cape fur seal populations—essentially , the birds are taking advantage of a newly abundant food source .
in the winter months , between 20 , 000 and 80 , 000 of the pinnipeds flock to namibia’s coasts to mate and raise young . this dramatic population increase from just around a hundred seals in 1998 is due to the species ' natural boom - and - bust cycles , the study says .
not to mention
the eyes are soft targets , and a good source of both fluid and protein , ” adds craig harms , a veterinary medicine expert at north carolina state university who wasn ' t involved in the new research .
as a responder for the u . s . marine mammal health and stranding response program , harms has seen firsthand the damage gulls can do .
“gulls particularly like to peck at and eat the jaw fats of beached harbor porpoises , dead or alive , ” says harms .
and while the seal eye - gobbling behavior is new , harms points to other research that shows seagulls peck at southern right whale calves ' back blubber when they surface to breathe .
“it ' s not surprising ,
he says ,
that they would find a similar source of fresh food that is not good at defending itself .
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turbott , e . g . 1990 . checklist of the birds of new zealand . ornithological society of new zealand , wellington .
justification : this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend appears to be increasing , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is extremely large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .