Nature's Clean-Up Crews. Part 2 of 2.

1. Gulls, also called seagulls and mews, are clever scavengers that consume both carrion and beach snacks. There are over 50 species of gulls, known for their loud squawking and their white or grey bodies with black markings. Some gulls, like the herring gull, use tools to catch fish, while others have been seen attacking much larger prey, such as landing on whales. Gulls range from 11 to 30 inches long and live in social groups. Their diet is diverse, including live and dead fish, insects, rodents, and even human garbage. They also mate for life. Have you ever had a gull snatch your food?

2. Terns belong to the same family as gulls, called laridae. They are mostly small birds with grey backs, white bellies, and black heads, although some have different colors. There are over 45 species of terns, which live near the coast, rivers, or wetlands. They catch fish by hovering and diving into the water and sometimes eat insects and marine invertebrates. Terns rarely eat carrion, but they will if needed. More research is needed to understand when they prefer carrion. One scientist documented a Caspian tern eating roadkill in the Everglades National Park in 1966. Have you ever been to the Everglades?

3. Skuas are another genus of sea-faring birds. There are 7 species in total. They are often dark in color with lighter markings in white or grey. In the winters, skuas rely almost solely on taking meals from other predators. This behavior is called kleptoparasitism. Some species of skuas also make live kills of birds much larger than they are, such as grey herons. Others eat land animals such as lemmings. Birds that nest in arctic locations also feast on penguin eggs and penguin chicks. In addition to this wide range of both live and dead food, skuas have also been observed drinking milk straight from a nursing elephant seal's teat. Have you ever heard of animals nursing from another species before?

4. The Marabou Stork is nicknamed the undertaker because it eats carrion and looks like someone in a long black cloak. It is is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae native to sub-Saharan Africa. It breeds in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially landfill sites. It has no feathers on its head, helping keep it clean while eating. Besides carrion, it consumes various animals, including other birds. When breeding, they switch to live prey to feed their young. Had you ever heard of this bird before this survey?

5. The Snowy Sheathbill is a small white bird, about 16 inches long, that often gets dirty from feeding on carrion. They spend over 85% of their time hunting or eating, consuming various items, including carrion, feces, and tapeworms. They lack webbed feet as they find food on land, though they can be seen flying near coastlines. Do you enjoy spending time at any coastlines?