More than a chip thief: is the red-billed gull Aotearoa’s most hated bird?
Red-billed gull (Tarāpunga) by Xandria Chong
Tilde’s talks
You loved Charlie’s Chats, but now we are introducing Tilde's Talks! Tilde Sorensen, a Waiheke local and a Te Korowai o Waiheke Field Team Technician, graduated from the University of Auckland in 2022 with a Master's in bio-security and conservation, specialising in monitoring invasive and native skinks on islands. She played a key role in setting up the stoat pilot on Waiheke Island in 2016 and is currently training to become a stoat detection dog handler.
The red-billed gull or Tarāpunga is the most common of our native gull species but is experiencing serious decline. This bird has adapted remarkably well to living near humans, often aggressively taking advantage of our presence compared to other species that retreat to wild areas or become extinct. This gull refuses to go quietly, and its loud habit of screaming at people from the tables of beachside cafes has made it notably unpopular. Despite their reputation, red-billed gulls are incredibly interesting and surprising creatures, and in my opinion, they don’t deserve the negative attention.
Tarāpunga nests are typically found in coastal colonies. Adult gulls aggressively defend their eggs and chicks, swooping at anyone who comes too close—a common experience if you happen to walk along the rocks between Big and Little Oneroa beaches during breeding season. Their courtship includes mating displays, and notably, the male feeds the female as she rests before laying eggs. Interestingly, if the female does not receive sufficient food, she is likely to "divorce" the male the following season (honestly—same!).
Males are devoted fathers, and both parents contribute equally to nest building and chick raising. Gull pairs often remain monogamous over multiple seasons, with the longest reported pair staying together for an impressive 17 years. Interestingly, not all pairs consist of a male and a female. In one colony, approximately 7% of studied pairs were lesbian, successfully raising chicks by having one partner mate with a male and then incubating the eggs together.
Although casual beach visits might not reveal it, the red-billed gull population in Aotearoa has declined by as much as 80% in certain regions. The primary culprits are mammalian predators, food shortages, and human activities.
Research at the Kaikoura colony—the largest in the country—has identified stoats, ferrets, and feral cats as the most devastating predators, sometimes killing up to 500 gulls in a single night. Currently, the colony's survival depends on a trapping network.
Food scarcity is also critical, although their persistent attempts to steal fish and chips might suggest otherwise. Parent gulls depend heavily on krill to feed their chicks. Krill distribution depends on specific ocean temperatures and strong cold-water upwellings, both of which are increasingly disrupted by climate change. During good krill years, parents may only leave the nest for around two hours; in bad years, they may be absent for up to five hours, leading to chick mortality due to prolonged periods without care.
The average lifespan for Tarāpunga is 13 years for males and 16 for females, though some individuals have lived for over 30 years! Generally found in coastal areas, they may move inland if there is an available food source, such as rubbish dumps or food-processing facilities. They are dietary generalists, feeding on fish, krill, invertebrates, and food scraps. Gulls, including Tarāpunga, have developed an unusual foraging technique for worms, which usually surface during rain by detecting vibrations from raindrops. Cleverly, the gulls mimic this vibration by "dancing" or tapping their feet on the ground, tricking worms to surface and swiftly consuming them.
Unfortunately, humans frequently create hazards for wildlife living close to us. Tarāpunga, especially in urban areas, face threats like car strikes, dog attacks, entanglement in rubbish, and ingestion of plastic.
The quirky, noisy, and charismatic Tarāpunga needs our help, and we can easily contribute through small, everyday actions:
Control dogs on beaches. While some see chasing gulls as good exercise for dogs, birds need uninterrupted time to rest and feed.
Participate in predator control efforts, especially if you live near gull colonies.
Engage in beach clean-ups. Join organized events or simply bring along a bag on your next beach walk.
Lastly, refrain from feeding the gulls. Avoiding this interaction keeps them safer by reducing their proximity to humans, pets, and vehicles.
— Written by Tilde Sorensen