Short abstract from the book: The great black-backed gull started to breed in Denmark in
1930 and is today a rather common breeding bird with an
estimated population of 2,000–3,000 pairs. It is furthermore
a common visitor outside the breeding season.
In Denmark the first great black-backed gull was ringed in
1934, with the majority ringed from the 1970s to today. The
majority of the recovered birds were ringed as chicks (92 %).
Most Danish great black-backed gulls are residents, remaining in Danish territory year round. In autumn the birds
have been found along most Danish coastal sites, and in
September some gulls have moved to neighbouring countries,
e.g. the German Wadden Sea, the Netherlands, Norway and
Sweden, but also as far as NE Spain. During winter Danish
birds have been recovered in Denmark (62 %), England,
the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Norway. The mean
distance to ringing sites is 120 km. One bird was recovered
in Greenland in March. Mature great black-backed gulls
return to the colonies in March.
Outside the breeding season, gulls from Norway, Sweden,
Finland, northwest Russia and Estonia have been recovered
in Denmark. Most foreign birds arrive in August and the
number of recovered visitors reaches its climax in October.
The main known cause of death is hunting. Ninety per cent
have been shot in Denmark, mainly in October.
Read more about the species in the chapter from The Danish Bird Migration Atlashere
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