Nestlings of gulls are absolutely different from their parents

Seagulls belong to the most numerous genus of birds from the family of gulls. They live in the sea, And in inland waters. As a rule, gulls are birds of medium or large size. Plumage is usually white or gray, often there are black marks on the wings or head. A distinctive feature of these birds is the well-developed swimming feet and the beak, which is slightly curved at the end.

The chicks of the gulls appear well pubescent and already with their eyes open. These spotted lumps are completely different from their parents. For a while they are in a nest under their supervision. Already a few hours after the birth of the young gulls begin to demand food. For their parents, they remain unrecognizable only a few days after the birth, then each of the parents unmistakably recognizes their chick. By the way, do you know what the gull chickens are called? In the dictionary of Dalya, a young seagull (chick) is called a chabar. But in Danilovsky chabor - this is a hatched in an egg, but not yet hatched chick.

Seagulls are able to feed not only their chicks - they can take strangers, but only up to 14 days old. In nesting colonies, adoption occurs most often under certain conditions. For example, a panic when a predator appears or caused by a visit to a person. It can also happen because of unfavorable climatic conditions.

The most mass adoption occurs in Franklin gulls, which nest in the marshes. They build their nests from reeds, and during the rise of water many nests swim, as they can not gain a foothold. Young chicks of the gulls of Franklin at this time often leave their nests to swim. And each of them can climb into any nest, where it will be adopted by adult birds in its brood.

But the gray gull, which breeds in Chile in a hot desert, the situation is somewhat different. Adult birds stand over the nests and their bodies create a shadow. Any gull chick can come to the nest where it is fed and sheltered from the sun. But if it is far from the nest, it will be attacked by adult gulls and even by its parents.

It must be said that seagulls are characterized by angry behavior. And their anger is always directed towards the chicks. This is especially typical of males. They often attack chicks that approach or run past them. During such attacks, the chicks of the seagulls often die, and this at least somehow would be justified if they were later used as food. But no, this does not happen. Hence, males attack wandering chicks only because they are descendants of other gulls. For example, in a crab, intraspecies predation has a "domino effect". If someone steals a nest or egg from the nest, an angry male will steal an egg (or chick) from another pair and so on.

The colonial gulls developed communal care for their offspring. This phenomenon can occur spontaneously, because of the attack of predators. Nestlings gather in large groups - nurseries, which are protected by adult birds. The formation of such nurseries helps seagulls protect their offspring from attacking crows, rats and other predators. They can also be grouped if the colony is disturbed by a person. Some of the adult birds remain guarded by the young, while the rest collectively drive away the stranger or attack the predator from above.