Give me a clear space and plenty of food…

Gulls are often thought of as seabirds, but the black-billed gull (Larus bulleri) is more likely to be found around freshwater: rivers, lakes, marshes, pastures. They breed on the gravel beds of braided rivers, which provide them with a clear space to nest on and easy access to a reliable food source. In 2016, a dairy farm in North Canterbury hosted a colony of 300 black-billed gull nests, which fledged 440 chicks. In the Tasman District, black-billed gulls occasionally breed at Farewell Spit and Rototai, but not in large numbers.