In Alaska, the ultimate party crasher is the Glaucous-winged gull. These gregarious gulls can be found socializing with just about anyone. In Anchorage, we found them hanging on the beach with other gulls; in Valdez, they gathered with sea lions to catch salmon at the hatchery; in Seward, they kept fish-gutting fishermen company; in Kenai Fjords National Park, they tagged along with bubble-netting Humpback whales; and in Katmai National Park, they mingled with fishing brown bears. It's for this last event that I've selected them to represent Katmai National Park.
Aptly named, mature Glaucous-winged gulls can be identified by their entirely glaucous (bluish-grey) wings and complete lack of black. Like a lot of gulls, they will eat just about anything and can therefore be found in crowds all along the coast of Alaska wherever you find an abundance of resources. Like other gulls, they are custom-fit with glands to help them survive the ocean. They are also capable of drinking saltwater, thanks to a pair of salt glands above their eyes which, like a kidney, filters salt ions. Another pair of glands near the base of their tail supplies oil they use to waterproof their feathers. Considered common, loud, and obnoxious by some, they are actually highly adaptable, curious, and social birds.
At Katmai National Park, the crowd is made up of nearly equal parts bears, humans, and gulls. At Brooks Falls in particular, the kleptoparasitic habits and bravery of the Glaucous-winged gulls are on full display as they gather round and steal fish bits from the bears. Both gulls and bears can live 20+ years. Two individuals might spend a lifetime of summers together as fishing buddies at Brooks Falls. It's only fitting that one of Katmai's year-round residents and biggest fans of the bears represent Katmai National Park in my National Parks Birding Challenge.
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