Franklin's Gull - Historical eBird Records
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Historical eBird Records Media from this contributor Profile

Date

Location

Catawba River near SC/NC border
Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 35.0957544, -81.0468292
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Observation details

Specimen collected along the SC/NC border in NC. Data from Post and Gauthreaux, Chat 17:23-24, and Pearson et. al., 1959. Franklin's Gull in North Carolina.—On Oct. 13, 1952, a young gull was wounded by gun shot at the Catawba River, within 12 miles of Charlotte, N. C., and taken to the Children's Nature Museum in that city. The writer saw it on that date and assumed that it was a Bonaparte's Gull, a common species on the coast and an occasional wanderer into the interior. Closer examination revealed several characters that appeared to fit the juvenal plumage and bill structure of Franklin's Gull (Larus pipixcan), and photographs were submitted to Allen Duvall at the National Museum for identification. Mr. Duvall replied to the effect that it probably was Franklin's Gull but that he would prefer to see the bird. On Dec. 16 it died and upon examining the skin he stated that it was Franklin's Gull. It was a female but the ovaries were minute and difficult to find. A shot gun pellet had broken the left humerus. Photo caption: Franklin's Gull, immature female. Photographed by Norman Chamberlain at Charlotte, North Carolina on October 16, 1952.

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