Summer is officially here, and we're dedicating this eNews to those familiar yet underappreciated birds we often see at beaches, on bays, over lakes, or loafing in parking lots—the splendid, soaring gulls!
Illustration by Lauren Richelieu.
See Gulls in a Whole New Light
We love gulls. Sure, they have a rascally side and a taste for human-owned French fries. But they’re also dedicated parents that work hard maintaining their pair bonds and caring for their young. Get to know the softer side of gulls through these six beautiful paintings (also a free downloadable poster).
Wouldn't it be nice if they all could be California Gulls? But since they're not, check out our new course on gull identification. California Gull by Rain Saulnier / Macaulay Library.
A New Course to Make Gull ID Easier and More Fun
Gulls are often black and white, but their identification isn’t. That’s why we created a new Bird Academy course to help you learn all 24 North American gull species in all plumages. With a few ID fundamentals mastered, you’ll open up a whole new world of fascinating, beautiful, and varied gulls to enjoy. Find out more in this short video about the course.
Mystery bird by Ron Buening / Macaulay Library.
What Bird Is This?
This smallest member of the gull-and-tern family is feisty—it will dive at you if you get too close to its nests or chicks! To ID it, notice the slender wings and forked tail, then look for a bright yellow bill, black cap, and white unibrow. This noisy species breeds colonially along both coasts and on inland rivers like the Mississippi and its tributaries. Do you know the name of this bird?
American Herring Gull by Alex Busato / Macaulay Library.
When Gulls Attack, Just Stare Back
Eye contact is important when talking to people—and when defending your food from hungry birds. Research from the U.K. shows that giving gulls the eye could help deter them from nabbing your beachside snack. Read the story.
This video will be shown at this week's American Grasslands Conference in Kearney, Nebraska.
Watch: A Whooping Crane Family's Migration
Researchers are meticulously tracking endangered Whooping Cranes to reveal exactly where they fly and the critical wetlands and grasslands where they stop to refuel. This cutting-edge animation follows one crane family’s poignant 37-day, 2,500-mile migration through the heart of North America.
Bird News and Resources
eBird Reaches 2 Billion Observations: Driven by participatory scientists around the world, these observations represent a vast foundation of ecological knowledge with tremendous potential for scientific insight.Read more.
Grant Opportunity for Adventurous Birders, Ages 18-30: The Search for Lost Birds and Ornis Birding Expeditions are offering grants of up to $5,000 to search for lost birds in 2026. Read more.
'Tis the Season for Baby Birds: Read our quick guide and be ready in case you or your loved ones find a baby bird on the ground during nesting season.
Attend a Bird Festival: Festivals are a great way to enjoy birds and meet like-minded people. See our bird festival directory.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.
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