The Conversation

Heermann's Gulls are a unique and beautiful species of gulls found primarily along the Pacific Coast of North America, including at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. These birds are known for their distinctive appearance, with dark gray feathers and a bright red-orange bill. During the breeding season, their bills turn even brighter and more vibrant.

At Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Heermann's Gulls can often be seen foraging in the intertidal zones along the rocky coastline. They feed on a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. With the spray from the waves crashing at the edge of the intertidal zone, here is an image that we can easily anthropomorphise, or seemingly attribute their actions in human terms: “Get off MY rock.”