Banded Herring Gull: 29 Years Old

I spent several hours searching for banded Herring Gulls today in Michigan City, Indiana and New Buffalo, Michigan. My painstaking work was not left unrewarded.

Of the 3 bands I was able to fully read, one return was of a 29 year-old! To date, this is now the oldest gull that I've personally recorded. Needless to say, I'm stoked!

Adult Herring Gull. Photographed in New Buffalo, MI (20 Sept 2015).
Fed Band #0846-10957. Banded as a chick in Egg Harbor, WI on 28 June 1986.

American Herrings are said to average 15-20 year lifespans in the wild, but 30+ years have apparently been recorded, and 40+ have been recorded in captivity.

I also had two other adults, which coincidentally came from the same colony, banded on the same day:

Adult Herring Gull. Photographed in New Buffalo, MI (20 Sept 2015).
Fed Band #1106-13326. Banded as a chick, East of Chambers Island. Wisconsin. 20 June 2009.

Adult Herring Gull. Photographed in New Buffalo, MI (20 Sept 2015).
Fed Band #1106-13485. Banded as a chick, East of Chambers Island. Wisconsin. 20 June 2009.