The Gulls of Taylor Pond

by Dana Little

Officials responsible for Lake Auburn's water quality decided a year ago that gulls were increasing the bacterial count in Lewiston/Auburn's water supply. To reduce this source of pollution, Ben Nugent of Maine Fish and Wildlife Service killed a few gulls. He also used noise-makers to scare many more gulls off the lake. Officials successfully reduced the gulls on Lake Auburn and bacterial counts declined to acceptable levels. However, the reduction in gulls on Lake Auburn appeared to have caused an increase in gulls on Taylor Pond.

This last summer Ben Nugent observed an increase in gulls on Taylor Pond. The number of gulls counted on Taylor Pond ranged from 50 to a high of 3,000. Typically he counted 800 gulls in the evening floating on the water this last summer. He saw higher numbers during the migration of Herring Gulls in the fall. When the ice covers the pond in the winter, most of the gulls leave the pond. Some gulls remain and will roost at night out in the middle of the ice where they feel the safest. Ben has observed flocks of gulls traveling down the Androscoggin River daily in the winter to roost in the ocean. He speculates that they travel to the ocean because they feel safer roosting out on the ocean where they can easily spot approaching predators. During the day, gulls fan out across the countryside to forage in farmer's fields, open dumpsters and roadside trash. In the summer, gulls gather over the pond in the evening, circling above looking for danger. When they feel safe, they settle down in the middle of the pond to roost for the night. 

We need to be concerned about the increase in gulls for two reasons. First, their feces are loaded with bacteria which have the potential to make people sick when they swim or drink the water. Reassuringly, two years ago, tests done on the water in Taylor Pond during the summer swimming season did not show any significant levels of bacteria. Taylor Pond Association's board recently made a decision to perform bacterial testing this coming summer to see if the increase in gulls will cause a problem. Secondly, gull feces are high in nutrients, including phosphorous, which could cause an algal bloom. However, ongoing testing for phosphorous levels in Taylor Pond demonstrated no increase from the gulls. After learning about the potential problems that gulls can bring, we might be tempted to chase them off the lake to prevent problems from occurring. Ben Nugent, who manages the gulls on Lake Auburn, reminds us that we cannot disturb wildlife without a permit and gulls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. 

Gulls provide entertainment for those of us watching the wildlife. Year-round, one can often spot Ring-billed Gulls around the pond. During migration many Herring Gulls appear and a few Great Black-backed Gulls show up throughout the year. During a large mayfly hatch this past summer, large numbers of gulls swept through the air at dusk, feeding on the mayflies. As it became dark, bats moved in and cleaned up what the gulls did not eat. This winter Tim Priestly observed a Bald Eagle chasing down and devouring a gull on the ice in front of his home. Charlie Todd of Maine Fish and Wildlife tells me that along the ocean shoreline gulls make up 50% of the Bald Eagles’ diet. Fortunately, we have spotted many Bald Eagles year-round on Taylor Pond, perhaps they will keep the gulls from overwhelming the pond. 

The Taylor Pond Association board will continue to monitor the gull situation and will review the data to be collected this summer regarding bacterial count.