BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 30, 2024
Three gull species are common in Maine. Herring gulls are the most abundant. Enough said about them. Great black-backed gulls resemble a larger version of the herring gull, with a solid dark back and upper wing. Although they come inland, most hang around saltwater. Ring-billed gulls are slightly more interesting. In spring, they nest on northern freshwater lakes. Later, they move to the coast, and often into town. The Bonaparte’s gull is among the smallest gulls in the world, and one of the most unusual. While most gulls nest on the ground, Bonaparte’s gulls choose the trees adjacent to Canada’s northern lakes. In late summer, many invade Maine to winter here. ~ Bob Duchesne