Long distance dehydration.

[tom mckinney]

Along with his pic, Paul Hackett posted that the Franklin's Gull in Dorset was not looking very healthy.

I'm going to say something that may be really stupid now, so please refrain from laughing too loud if it is.

I'm going to make an assumption that a Franklin's Gull requires fresh water to survive, so how the hell did it survive a transatlantic crossing? No wonder it looks knackered!

Strictly pelagic birds can handle the salt water, but what about "freshwater" birds?

And what about birds that do a bit of both? Phalaropes for example, or wind blown Kittiwakes on inland reservoirs?

I'm hoping Michael F can answer this pretty neatly.

Tom.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Tom,

As far as I know, all gulls can drink salt water, they have salt excretion glands. Must be a big problem for passerines, etc., though. Maybe they can drink raindrops that hit them? Don't know though.

Michael

[tom mckinney]

Good job there's lots of ships in the mid Atlantic with fresh water on board. ;)