The Great Black-backed Gull breeds along coastlines and islands of Atlantic Canada, and north to Labrador and Baffin Island; there is also a small population in Ontario. Its population has fluctuated greatly over the past 150 years, with large increases in the late 1800s, followed by large declines in the early 1900s due to feather and egg collecting, and then a rebound by the 1960s following the species’ protection (Anderson et al. 2016). Results from three large-scale surveys indicate a decrease in the population’s abundance relative to the 1970s, though there is some evidence of increases in the 1970s and 1980s, with the bulk of the decline since the 1990s. The species is large and dominant, and has been persecuted because of its ability to displace other waterbird and waterfowl species. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
This species’ population abundance and breeding range increased rapidly in eastern North America after 1950 (Good 1998). Large and predatory, Great Black-backed Gulls were sometimes persecuted where they interfered with other birds or with human activities. Gull control programs remain in place at some locations. The population declines observed in Atlantic Canada in the 1990s are believed to be related to a cold water event that disrupted food webs and fisheries (Cotter et al. 2012); this event affected a number of Atlantic seabirds (Gaston et al. 2009). Current trends appear to be related to changes in regional fishing activity (Wilhelm et al. 2016).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
