tarapuka (juvenile coming into adult plumage) - black-billed gull - Larus bulleri
Photographed at Ashley Estuary Canterbury New Zealand.
"The black-billed gull has the undesirable status of being the most threatened gull species in the world. Though still relatively abundant, numbers of birds in Southland, the national stronghold, are rapidly declining. Nevertheless, colonies can still number in the thousands. The black-billed gull is found only in New Zealand, unlike our two other common gull species. They are less likely to be found in towns and cities than the other gulls, and are not commonly observed scavenging for food. Interestingly, though declining overall, the black-billed gull has recently expanded its breeding range in the North Island, and now breeds as far north as the Kaipara Harbour." - www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz
tarapuka (juvenile coming into adult plumage) - black-billed gull - Larus bulleri
Photographed at Ashley Estuary Canterbury New Zealand.
"The black-billed gull has the undesirable status of being the most threatened gull species in the world. Though still relatively abundant, numbers of birds in Southland, the national stronghold, are rapidly declining. Nevertheless, colonies can still number in the thousands. The black-billed gull is found only in New Zealand, unlike our two other common gull species. They are less likely to be found in towns and cities than the other gulls, and are not commonly observed scavenging for food. Interestingly, though declining overall, the black-billed gull has recently expanded its breeding range in the North Island, and now breeds as far north as the Kaipara Harbour." - www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz