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March 28, 2024

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Friday, January 28, 2022

Bird of the Week – Sabine’s Gull

A much less common gull than the ones we’ve seen the last two weeks, the Sabine’s Gull is a very handsome species that breeds in Western and Northwestern Alaska.

Sabine's Gull in Flight, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

Sabine’s Gull in Flight, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

The species winters at sea in the Southern Hemisphere, flying to the coastal Arctic and Subarctic to breed.

The striking white margins on the wings, the black hood, the red-rimmed eye and the yellow tip on a black bill make this an easy bird to recognize.

Sabine's Gull on Nest, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

Sabine’s Gull on Nest, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

Like most long-distance migrants, Sabine’s don’t build much of a nest, just some packed grass on a high spot on the tundra. Sabine’s Gull is a two year gull, meaning it take just two years to reach maturity. We don’t see subadults in Alaska; they don’t return to the north the first year after hatching.

For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.

Comments

comments

Comments
13 Responses to “Bird of the Week – Sabine’s Gull”
  1. mike from iowa says:

    My one and only “Stick Man” Manifesto
    by ike from miowa

    Draw a circle,a straight line then another
    You have the makings of a pretty cool mutha.

    We(actually me) demand more of Ms Jeanne’s superb artistry in the form of “stick figures” and we(me again) demand immediate gratification.
    Our fearless leader is way to suave and sophisticated to fall for threats,so leave us (me) suggest all heck could break loose if we(you know who) doesn’t get his/its way.

    Add a simple expression or two
    Nobody does it like our Jeanne can do.

    So what’s the problem? We’re(Moi) talking real fire and brimstone heck to rain down from cornfiel

    ds all green,which means you have until the end of July when the ciorn will be as high as a combine’s eye. BTW-don’t feed green corn to livestock. Too much green stuff causes nitrogen poisoning. 🙂

    Draw a V for legs and add a hat
    stick man/woman/child is done and that is the end of our(my) manisfesto.

    JUST DO IT! Please.please,please.

    Signed ike from miowa

    • Jeanne Devon says:

      I will endeavor to provide more stick figures in the future. Thank you for the heartfelt manifesto! <3

      I have not attended any trials recently, but I will try to think of other occasions. 🙂

      • mike from iowa says:

        Muchas Gracias for your prompt reply to my incessant whining about stick figures. You have a certain stick figure jene se quois that should be roundly exploited(for eveyone’s benefit). As for trials,I’d think dealing with vicious manifestos from ike from miowa would be trial enough for you. Do I over-estimate his irascibibility? 🙂

  2. mike from iowa says:

    So,dumb bass dubya flew to Chicago and had knee replacement surgery on Saturday. Had a torn meniscus. Whassa matter,dummy? Ain’t Texas hospitals good enough for your war criminal ass? Maybe they wouldn’t admit him because of bad grades. Too bad they didn’t deport him while he was semi-conscious,as per usual.dubya-for all you do(and have done) this finger is for you!!!!

    • Really? says:

      MFI .. Thank you for the reminder. I mean it.

    • I read that W was set to go to Switzerland for some event….but changed his mind…(or, rather.. HAD it changed FOR him.!). Since he is so popular there, they might have KEPT HIM! Perish the thought… 🙂

  3. mike from iowa says:

    To say some guys don’t handle rejection well would be an epic understatement. Have a safe and somber Memorial Day.

  4. Irishgirl says:

    Happy Birthday AKM.

  5. mike from iowa says:

    Who or what was this bird named after? Curious minds want to know(without googling).

    • mike from iowa says:

      Nevermind. I looked it up. Was named after an Irish Scientist in 1819. They act more like terns and are considered a disgrace to rill gulls. Snooty li’l devils get their own family name,too.Or was it genus,phylum,class or whatever.

  6. Zyxomma says:

    What a handsome gull! Thanks, WC.