Bonaparte's Gull

October 2011 – Cannon Beach, OR

I believe this is a Bonaparte’s Gull, though it’s hard to tell, as the bird’s head is wet. Sadly, there was probably something wrong with the bird’s feathers that allowed it to get like this – the feathers should shed water, but if they got a little oily, this could happen. The bird would have a hard time staying warm with its feathers in this state. Hopefully, it was able to survive this… but in the harsh environment of the cold ocean, a minor malady like this can be fatal.