Photo of the Day #667: A dangerous lunch

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A gull attempting to make a meal out of a crab. Photographed in Cape May, New Jersey.


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Original image.


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A great egret (Ardea alba), photographed in Cape May, New Jersey.

A couple of times while kayaking on my local river, the Manasquan in southern Monmouth county, I've seen crabs successfully defend themselves from gulls.

By NoAstronomer (not verified) on 10 Aug 2009 #permalink

and on the shores of the North and Baltic seas I have seen gulls, especially individuals of larger species, who had obviously developed a certain expertise in dealing with dangerous prey: they'd hack at crabs until they were in several pieces, only then would they carry them off. No matter that this guaranteed at least two or three rivals fighting over the carcass - I have never seen a gull go off with an entire (thus potentially alive) crab.

By Heinrich Mallison (not verified) on 11 Aug 2009 #permalink