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Iceland experiences surge in Herring Gull population, initiates large-scale tagging operation

Monday 15th 2024 on 13:36 in  
Iceland

The population of the Herring Gull species has significantly increased in Iceland, with approximately four thousand pairs now present, primarily in the Skaftafell region. The birds are currently in a moulting phase, rendering them flightless, which makes them easier to gather, identify, and tag.

In the southeast marshlands of Iceland, a large-scale operation took place last week to herd and tag the Herring Gulls, a species that has seen a surge in population over recent years. As the birds are unable to fly during their moulting phase, this period is ideal for tagging and identifying them.

Zoologist Arnór Þórir Sigfússon, who has been observing migratory birds in Iceland for many years, has been supervising the counting and tagging of the Herring Gulls. He explained that during the moulting phase, the adult birds shed their flight feathers, which then grow back once their young become independent.

The Herring Gulls are herded into enclosures and the young birds are separated to ensure they are not trampled during the process. After the Herring Gulls have been herded and the young separated, the tagging process begins. The first task is to identify the species, a task made easier by the distinctive markings of the Herring Gull.

Arnór explains, “They have a beak spot,” indicating that the birds can be easily identified. The birds are then fitted with leg tags that can be read with a magnifying glass, allowing researchers to track their movements. This data can also be used to calculate their lifespan and mortality rate.

Berglind Björgúlfsdóttir, a representative of the Varmár Association, participated in the herding. The association, which has ceased operations, decided to support the Herring Gull count with remaining funds. Berglind was given the honor of naming one Herring Gull after herself, a bird that will now fly across the Atlantic, providing valuable data about its journeys.