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A gull typical, not only of the Aegean, but of the Mediterranean in general, it is distinguished by its large size and yellow legs and bill. It nests in colonies, on safe, uninhabited islets. By the end of March, it lays three spotted, adeptly camouflaged eggs. When the young hatch, their parents start feeding them with fish that they either catch themselves or collect from fishing-boat waste. After the breeding period, many Yellow-legged Gulls -and especially the immature- leave the Aegean islands and congregate on the mainland to feed at fishing ports, harbours and rubbish dumps.
Serving as a textbook example of the adaptation concept, the Yellow-legged Gull, like its northern relative the Herring gull (Larus argentatus) faces no human threat. On the contrary, it has greatly benefited from human activities. As a result, its population has greatly increased, and is currently estimated at more than 30,000 pairs, dispersed over hundreds of colonies, nesting in Greece.
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D. Bousbouras
The fledgings are, like the eggs, superbly camouflaged. In about 40 days, they take a characteristic brownish coloration and are capable of flying. They will acquire adult plumage at the age of four. |
F. Katsigiannis |
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