FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Bonaparte's Gulls flock at S. Holston Dam

[Dnldhlt@xxxxxxx]

Wed. , Nov. 13, ca 11 am I observed a flock of 30+ Bonaparte's Gulls fly over 
South Holston Dam from the lake to the river below.  They flew in formation, 
not unlike Starlings, circling low over the river several times, then 
beginning to lose the tight formation as individual birds began dropping to 
the surface to snatch up items from the surface.  At this point Ring-billed 
gulls began joining them.  I wondered if the circling formation was designed 
to "drive" fish into a smaller, concentrated group for easier feeding.  If 
anyone has seen or heard of such behavior I would be interested in learning 
about it.  Anyway, the gulls of both species headed out over the lake again, 
spreading far and wide.  I later saw a flock of 32 Bonaparte's on the surface 
of the lake, and later still another flock of 23 circling over the river that 
eventually flew back to the lake.  I don't know how many of the birds I saw 
more than once.

Don Holt
Johnson City, TN
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