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Yellow-legged Gull with chicks
Larens michahellis
41.1104, 29.0231
Field Notes
Description:
These big gulls are bold and have almost taken over all of Istanbul. However, they seem to be caring parents, with one standing by at all times. Chicks (when I spotted them) were like two puffy balls of yellow with tiny black dots. Adults have a reddish spot on their beaks and a red ring around their eye.
The "nest" is nothing much and pretty messy.
Habitat:
Roof of houses across the road from the hotel where I stayed. I was on the seventh floor, so I had the advantage of height. Unfortunately, ledges and gutters obstruct the view and I have cropped a few shots. In the last shot it looks like the parent gull is regurgitating food for the chicks. I could photograph through a small "crack" that was all the window would open, so I was not always able to get the best angles.
Notes:
Parent gulls are vocal and greet each other. They also call loudly and chase potential predators away quite aggressively. These chicks are being allowed to walk a little on the roof but the moment one comes close to the ledge they are shepherded back to the safe corner.
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