Seagulls in West Virginia? Umm... okay.

[theHandpuppet]

Hoping someone here knows a lot more about bird behavior than I do. My SO and I were driving back from the store today when we began to notice large flocks of seagulls overhead. Then even more seagulls perched on the rooftops around the neighborhood. Hundreds of seagulls, just flying around and seeming in no hurry to get anywhere in particular. It's like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

Now, on the rare occasion you might see a lost seabird or two around these parts. But nothing like this! Anyone have an explanation for this kind of behavior? These critters are a long way from home.

[theHandpuppet]

1. By the way...

You ought to see the reaction of the native birds to this invasion of seagulls. They are freaking out.

[pkdu]

2. Explained here.....

http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/507054/Seagulls-Make-Pit-Stop-in-Wheeling.html?nav=526

[theHandpuppet]

3. Thanks.

The seagulls here are just like the ones pictured in that photo accompanying the article.

I'm not sure if they've picked a good time to migrate towards the Great Lakes. Mother of a storm moving this way.

[fredamae]

6. I'm guessing they're

"parking" to wait out the storm they don't want to fly into...

[William Seger]

4. We have flocks of seagulls in Colorado

... more than a mile above sea level and more than 700 miles from the nearest sea.

But I think the technical answer is that there are several species of gulls and not all of them live by the sea.

[theHandpuppet]

5. Well, as a bird lover...

I can tell you that seagulls are not natives to this area. Prior to this, over the years I've seen fewer than a half dozen gulls wander in here.

[William Seger]

7. I only see them here in the summer

I assume they migrate somewhere during the winter. Wish I could.

[William Seger]

10. Just read the article linked above

I remember seeing large flocks of seagulls in parking lots when I lived in Northern Virginia, so I would guess they were the same ringbilled seagulls that the article talks about, on their way to the Great Lakes. I wonder if they've changed their migration route?

[5X]

8. We get sea gulls in the winter in Oklahoma, can't get much further

from a sea than that. Ring Billed and California migrate through here. Some winter here.
Should be mostly Ring Billed I would think in West Virginia, but I am not as familiar with
eastern species.

[shraby]

9. We have them year around along Lake Michigan.

[kestrel91316]

11. There are lots of seagulls in Utah. Go figure.

[freeplessinseattle]

14. I remember that! Then when I moved here I was struck by how few I saw, except right by the water

In SLC they were always in the middle of the street in my neighborhood, & parking lots. Eating gravel I suppose, & looking for scraps.

We were maybe 45 min away (I only knew time wise, not distance, as a kid) from the Great Salt Lake, where they liked to congregate. Food for them was scarce there, tho, just brine shrimp. That lake wasn't a real hospitable environment, I felt sorry for them.

Kind of miss the sound of the seagulls. (Especially since Seattle's gone so bonkers about Seahawks! Not as soothing a sound).

[WhiteTara]

12. Big storm coming?

[postulater]

13. I'm a block from Lake Michigan.

I can look up in the sky above my house and see them nearly every day of the year.