Pacific Gull

 

Australia’s largest gull, the Pacific Gull, is a regular sighting along the beaches and estuaries of Bass Coast and Westernport Bay. The species is endemic to the southern coastline of the continent. Despite its name, the Pacific Gull is rarely seen on the Pacific coastline.

Estuaries, bays and harbours where the ocean is protected from swells and waves, seems to be the preferred habitat of this bird. Unlike the smaller and more common Silver Gull, aka Seagull, the Pacific Gull tends to shun human habitation.

The Pacific Gull feeds on molluscs, fish, other birds and carrion found between the high-water mark and the tide line. Sometimes it dives, Gannet-like, for fish. It has the learned habit of dropping molluscs from a height onto rocks in order to crack open the shell.

The bird usually breeds in colonies on off-shore islands or rocky coastlines but otherwise is generally solitary.

In some localities along the coast, The Pacific Gull is being replaced by the similar-looking Kelp Gull, a far more ‘cosmopolitan’ species that appears to have been self-introduced circa1930. The Kelp Gull is a little smaller, has a less massive bill that is only red-tipped on the lower mandible and it has white spots on the tail.