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Pacific Gull picks up sea urchin and drops it from the air

on 20th July 2013

Teo Lee Wei & K documented a Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) picking up a sea urchin from the shallow water around Victor Harbor in South Australia. It then flew around to drop the prey on the hard surface of the causeway that link Victor Harbor to Granite Island. Once the hard shell of the sea urchin broke, the gull landed to pick on the soft tissues.

Pacific Gulls feed on fish, squid, molluscs, sea urchins, crabs and marine snails. With hard-shelled organisms such as molluscs, snails and sea urchins, the gulls use the above strategy to get at the flesh inside.

Teo Lee Wei & K
Singapore
July 2013

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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