Larus cachinnans
(last update:
Greg Neubauer
Marcin Przymencki
Albert de Jong
Mars Muusse
cachinnans plumages
Larus cachinnans adult UKK L-002095 May 06 2013, Gatovo - Minsk, Belarus. Picture: Dmitry Goncharov.
Bird ringed UKK L-002095, ringed in Ukraine, now in the rooftop breeding colony in Minsk. Exact data pending, probably pullus 2003-2004, also note bad condition of ring. However, Armin Deutsch photographed a Kiev ring pretty close in code, ringed in 2007 at Lake Svityaz, Shatskiv Distr. Ukraine (51°28'00"N, 23°50'00"E). This is the most north eastern lake and probably visible from the border with Poland and Belarus (with telescope at least); see L-002197.
Below: roof top nesting in Belarus.
This is what local ornithologist Dmitry says:
Last season I found on the roofs of industrial buildings near Minsk (Belarus), several breeding colonies (CG + HG + LBBG). The largest of these was located on the roof size 240х480 m in Gatovo village and included 1,830 nests cachinnans + argentatus + fuscus and part of the mixed pairs. I often have questions accurately identify taxa. Nests are located mainly at the base of rooflights, ventilators, often among the vegetation on the the broken stone-gravel. Most nests contained three eggs (the norm), and some even six (two females - adult + 4 cy). Hatching chicks began in May. Frequently observed bird deaths on various factors: man-made traps, overheating of the roof, falling flying chicks.
