Western Gulls

Did you know that there’s no such thing as a Seagull? Say what!? Yep, there are actually many different species of gulls that live near the sea… 28 types in North America to be precise, and not one of them is named Seagull.

The birds that we often call Seagulls here on the Oregon coast are in fact called Western Gulls. Endemic to the Pacific Northwest coast, it might be hard to imagine, but Western Gulls have the smallest population of any of the North American Gulls. They also have another unique quality: they’re the only gull that nests along the rocky coastline, rather than in estuaries.

In early summer, Western Gulls begin forming breeding pairs. If possible, they’ll reunite with their previous year’s partner. Females lay 2-3 eggs per season, and both partners aggressively protect their chosen nest site. Believe it or not, baby Western Gulls are some of the cutest chicks on the planet! To see these fluffy spotted cotton-balls, check out Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach at low tide between June and August.

Finally, a PSA: please do not feed the Gulls! Processed foods are very unhealthy for them, even though they might seem to love your bread and popcorn. If you see an injured bird and want to help, call the Wildlife Center of the North Coast at 503-338-0331.