Laughing gulls at Huguenot Memorial Park

As I write this article, I am surrounded by my subjects and their endless cries. I am here on the beach at Huguenot Memorial Park, south of Amelia Island, with thousands of laughing gulls, gathered together to participate in this year’s mating season. What a glorious spring day for the gulls to declare their love to the world. I suppose these cries are why they were named laughing gulls in the first place. The gulls are dressed for the occasion with their brilliant, solid black heads, ready to spend time with their partners and show off to their friends. Laughing gulls only have black heads during the mating season, making them especially attractive to the opposite sex. As I walk among them in the shallow tidal pools on the beach, they are undisturbed by my presence. At this moment in time, the gulls only have one thing in mind! 

Huguenot Memorial Park is managed by the city of Jacksonville. 

I am able to get close to them and I notice for the first time how beautiful their red beaks are, and as they raise their heads to express themselves, I see their mouths are also lined in this striking red color. Their eyes are stylishly lined with white, which contrasts with their seasonal black heads. Pairs of gulls stand together with their chosen mates in a gesture of bonding. Some are actually procreating as I write this article, ensuring future generations of laughing gulls. 

I’ve had the privilege of witnessing this scene years ago when I was kayaking and exploring the low-tide sandbars between the southern tip of Little Talbot Island and the northern edge of Huguenot Memorial Park. I like to launch from the Alimacani Boat Ramp, riding the outgoing tide to the sandbars just before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The minus low-tides are the best, creating the largest areas of exposed sand. I enjoy exploring these small temporary islands, having lunch while waiting for the incoming tide to take me back to the boat ramp. This is a great day trip to share with friends, an easy adventure in kayaks, especially great for children, just across the channel from where I am today.

Laughing gulls seem so common, so ordinary, most people don’t think of them as majestic, but this experience of being surrounded by their noise, energy, bravado, romance, and striking mating colors makes me realize I may have underestimated their magnificence. I am happy to see so many of them; the environment in northeast Florida must be productive enough to support these great numbers of birds. 

Laughing gulls live in North and South America and are considered “New World” gulls. They are omnivores and scavengers, capable of taking a sandwich from your hand at the beach! Many of these gulls live in our area year-round but some may have migrated from the north. They breed in large colonies of up to 25,000 individuals, mostly along the Atlantic coast and the Caribbean. Their breeding season starts in April. Their nests are built by both sexes out of plant material and together they incubate a clutch of three eggs for about 22-27 days. Chicks remain near the nest for 5 days, being fed by both parents. Young gulls can fly after approximately 40 days, and acquire their full adult plumage in three years. 

On this fine day, there is an awesome congregation of birds. Joining the laughing gulls are the brown pelicans, a juvenile great black-backed gull, the royal terns, sanderlings, willets, and grackles. In addition to the birds, many people are enjoying the minus low tide at the beach this afternoon. The tidal pools are warm and aqua green, spanning out as far as the eye can see, full of activity. On the bottom of the pools are ripples in the sand, making intricate, wonderful patterns, and light shimmers off the top of the water. 

Returning home today from an appointment in Jacksonville, I drove over the Fort George River bridge and noticed the scene below. I made an immediate U-turn and headed back to Huguenot Memorial Park, paying my $5 entrance fee. I love seeing so many birds; it gives me hope for the future. The noise is invigorating and the sound of seagulls always reminds me of beach days spanning back to my childhood. Today’s minus low tide provides a wide area with plenty of room for much activity, both avian and human!