Bonaparte's & Franklin's Gulls
Bonaparte's and Franklin's Gulls
Ryan J. Bradshaw
It’s on all of us to conserve
these two birds.
Because of human behaviour,
they’re in danger;
and if these species don’t remain,
we’re to blame.
At first glance, these gulls look the same.
The most significant likeness?
They’re facing the climate crisis.
These two birds, they’re in danger. We’re to blame.
The Bonaparte’s Gull (pictured above) and the Franklin’s Gull (pictured below) both have black heads in the breeding season, but they can easily be differentiated by the colours of their bills and legs. Franklin’s Gulls are also larger and often have a pretty pinkish hue on the chest and belly that the Bonaparte’s lacks.
According to Audubon’s Survival by Degrees study, the Bonaparte’s Gull is estimated to lose 40% of its current summer range in the not-too-distant future as average global temperatures rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Climate experts believe we will reach 1.5°C as soon as the early 2030s. If we allow global heating to progress at this rate, the Bonaparte's Gull could lose 54% of its current summer range as soon as 2050 (2°C), and 81% as soon as 2080 (3°C). Projections suggest this species could gain 17%-23% in new areas, but displaced birds may face new challenges and have varying degrees of success in nesting and rearing young.
According to Audubon’s Survival by Degrees study, the Franklin’s Gull is estimated to lose 57% of its current summer range in the not-too-distant future as average global temperatures rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Climate experts believe we will reach 1.5°C as soon as the early 2030s. If we allow global heating to progress at this rate, the Franklin's Gull could lose 67% of its current summer range as soon as 2050 (2°C), and 75% as soon as 2080 (3°C). Projections suggest this species could gain 21%-22% in new areas, but displaced birds may face new challenges and have varying degrees of success in nesting and rearing young.
Want to help? Visit the United Nations website for a list of actions that you can take!
Photographs courtesy of Nick Saunders
This project is supported by SK Arts
