This gull breeds in the highest northern reaches of the world and for the most part, year round, is associated with the Arctic ice pack and drift ice. It ranges widely in search of food and only accidentally occurs in Alberta.
The only evidence for its presence in this province is a photograph of an immature individual from southern Alberta.
Generally avoiding landing on water, on its breeding ground it eats lemmings and insects, cructacea and mullusks. For most of the year it looks for and follows mammals - seals, Polar Bears, wolves and humans, feeding on their excreta.
It nests, usually in colonies, on bare, open ground or rock, sometimes on lower cliff ledges, occasionally on ice islands. The nest is a collection of moss, lichens, seaweed and feathers. The usually two eggs are incubated by both parents for about 25 days.
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Where to find Ivory Gulls in Alberta
This species does not occur in the Weaselhead/Glenmore Park area. Brent Johner
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KEN OAKES
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