Rondeau Ric

Bonaparte's Gull , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. The English name of the Bonaparte's Gull honours Charles Lucien Bonaparte, who made important contributions to American ornithology while an active member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia during the 1820s. The scientific name philadelphia was given in 1815 by the describer of the species, George Ord of Philadelphia, presumably because he collected his specimen there. The Bonaparte's Gull is the only gull that regularly nests in trees. Chroicocephalus philadelphia source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

diving gulls , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Normally turns dive under the water to feed but this time it was gulls. I haven't seen this type of behaviour before. They looked like northern gannets diving for food. Bonaparte's Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia The Bonaparte's Gull is the only gull that regularly nests in trees. During the breeding season, the Bonaparte's Gull feeds mainly on insects, often catching them on the wing.

One thousand three hundred and nine, one thousand three hundred an ten..... , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Literally thousands of gulls lifted off at the same time creating this counting puzzle. The Wings of Spring Festival of Flight was held this past weekend at Rondeau Provincial Park to celebrate the return of the tundra swans and waterfowl to the area. As part of the activities we set up spotting scopes for the public to use. While looking at the waterfowl and tundra swans thousands of gulls, mainly Bonaparte's, lifted off together. How do you count a flock this big and constantly in motion? You guess. This is only a portion of the birds that were in the air. My guess is three thousand seven hundred and fifty one, fifty two, fifty three.....