American Herring Gull (smithsonianus)

(last update: October 30, 2015)

American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) T47 adult, April 2012, September 2013 & September 2015, Odiorne Point, New Hampshire Coast.

See website: The Gulls Of Appledore

Band Number: 1537-22711 & GREEN T47
Species: HERRING GULL
Date banded: 07/27/2010
Banding Location: APPLEDORE ISLAND, YORK COUNTY, MAINE, USA
Age: HATCHED IN 2007 OR EARLIER (4+CY)
Sex: UNKNOWN   

T47 was banded on Appledore Island as an adult in July of 2010 and has been on Appledore Island and the nearby New Hampshire coast six different times during July, August, September, and October of 2010 and 2011. Jon’s report and photos provide the first April (Spring) date for T47.

There is much to be learned from the Appledore Gulls. Because both Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls are common, banding large numbers of them produces many resights. The larger database provides a better baseline to study many aspects of the life of these long-lived birds and their interaction with the environment and humans. Each reported observation increases the value of the data already collected. The gulls have some things to tell us humans about their world and our world that are important to both. The story has just begun. Thanks to Jon for taking the time to report T47 and thanks for the great Spring photos of this handsome gull.

below: smithsonianus adult T47 September 30 2015, Odiorne State Park, Rye, New Hampshire. Picture: Robbie & Colleen Prieto.

Please visit Robbie's & Colleen's Flick photos for more pictures.

Still in complete moult: P6/P10, P7 almost as long as P6. Much more black on the bill now.

below: smithsonianus adult T47 September 13 2015, Odiorne State Park, Rye, New Hampshire. Picture: Robbie & Colleen Prieto.

Please visit Robbie's & Colleen's Flick photos for more pictures.

Still in complete moult: P6/P9.

below: smithsonianus adult T47 September 18 2013, Odiorne State Park, Rye, New Hampshire. Picture: Norm Cox & Linda Stesienko.

Moult stage: P8-P10 still old, and up to P5 renewed. Note missing central greater coverts, exposing the secondaries underneath.

below: smithsonianus adult T47 April 30 2012, Odiorne Point, New Hampshire Coast. Picture: Jon Woolf.