Ring-billed gulls take a break in front of the Wall Aquatic Center. Photo by Chris Strobel

The gulls next door:
Just passing through

A flock of ring-billed gulls went far beyond the sea to visit campus on Monday, alighting on the field in front of Wall Aquatic Center.

According to NAU professor Paul Beier, an expert in wildlife ecology and conservation biology, the ring-billed gulls most commonly breed in inland lakes of North America, using coastal areas to a lesser extent.

He said the birds are most likely migrants heading north, maybe to the Great Salt Lake, Lake Powell or some other freshwater lake.