June and July are placid months where we witness the mystery of these chicks being born and looking so damn cute. But now that August has arrived, we’ve passed a threshold.
Most of the chicks are now well on their way to fledging – they’ve replaced their speckled down with sooty-grey juvenile feathers, and can’t resist but to try out their wings. You’ll find them walking along the precarious ledges of their nest, knowing full well that if they fall they don’t have the strength or skill to fly.
Grassy Nest
Grassy Nest was very active on my visit. One of the parents arrived, and all three of the chicks rushed in, begging for food. I can’t help but feel empathy for the adult. After about a minute, the adult didn’t provide any food and flew away, leaving the chicks rather frustrated.
Perhaps to get out their irritation, they started playing what I won’t hesitate to call a game. They would jump and lunge at a feather, a stick, or just the vegetation – then start excitedly hopping and flapping around the nest site.
Here’s one with some feathers, and a jealous sibling quickly closing in to try and take them.
Two of the chicks showing off their pieces of grass.
Another photo with a good view of those remiges (aka flight feathers)
And one last photo…
Burrard Nest #4
I was rather surprised and somewhat nervous to see both of the chicks from Burrard Nest #4 have managed to leave the nest and ascend to the top of tower structure. This means they’re capable of at least short flights – and I suspect by next week we’ll see them making flights into the open air.
Pyramid Nest
Arriving at Pyramid Nest I could only find one chick in the usual location. At first I thought the other was simply napping behind the ledge where I couldn’t see. Leaving the nest, a patch of grey below the nest caught my eye. Sure enough, it was the other chick resting in the shade.
The second chick.
Here you can see the original nest location (on the right) and where one of the chicks is now (lower left). I suspect this chick was testing its wings and had a mishap, resulting in it falling from the nest.
I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if we find the other chick in the same location by next week. I don’t like it when the chicks are in areas that can be accessed by people (note the doorway), but I’ve never seen anyone on this rooftop, so I’m not too worried.
Beach Ave Nest
I briefly spotted a chick at this nest again.
Crossfit Nest
All three chicks hanging out on the edge of their rooftop. They’ve lost almost all their down now and we might see them making test flights by the next visit.
Culinary Nest
All three chicks were napping when I arrived, two of them perched on the ledge of the balcony.
Apartment nest
Approaching the location of this nest from the bridge off-ramp, I noticed this adult on a lamp-post being very vocal and attentive as I approached.
Seconds later, I noticed two chicks on a low rooftop almost level with the off-ramp. There was no nest on this rooftop previously – I’m certain these are the chicks from Apartment Nest that have come down from that rooftop. I took photos of them quickly and moved on to cause as little stress to the somewhat agitated parents.
Brewery Nest
I found our two chicks resting in the same location as last week.
Repeater Nest (new)
While checking out Rainbow and Fountain nests, I spotted two new nests nearby. I was lucky and briefly spotted one chick wandering around at this nest (so named due to all the cell-phone repeaters located on the building).
Wellington Nest (new)
Not long after spotting the nest above, I noticed a tiny head pop up at another nearby building. I had some suspicions there was a nest here, but finally got proof on this visit. Not a great photo, but note the second chick resting in the shade on the left-hand side of the photo.
Other Nests
Clipper Nest #1
All three chicks still present and lazing about in the rising sun.
Clipper Nest #2
No sign of adults of chicks – this is the second week I’ve not seen anything here. I’m starting to think something happened to this nest.
Burrard Nest #1
One chick and one adult.
Burrard Nest #2
I saw an adult resting here, but no chicks. I’m sure they were simply hidden from view.
Burrard Nest #3
Three chicks and one adult present.
West First Nest
One adult gull resting on the rooftop, and another adult swooped down frmo a lamp-post to chase away another gull that came too close to the location. However, I have still not seen any chicks!
Hornby Nest
One adult and two chicks.
University Nest
One adult and two chicks.
Engineer Nest
All three chicks spotted.
Island Nest
No activity spotted.
Ikon Nest
One adult resting, but no chicks seen on this visit.
Silver Seas Nest
All three chicks seen.
Rainbow Nest
All three chicks and both parents present.
Fountain Nest
One adult resting and two chicks spotted.
Klondike Nest
I think this nest will have to be split into Upper and Lower Klondike Nests. I spotted one chick at the lower level with both parents. While I didn’t spot the chick(s) on the upper level, there was another adult gull resting up there, which seems like good evidence to me that there are two families at this location.
Hemlock Nest
One chick seen.
Design Nest
One chick briefly spotted.
Pine Nest
Maybe one chick seen on the original nest location. Others may have been cuddled up and sleeping, or have perhaps flown down to the lower level of the roof.
Brigade Nest
One adult apparently resting, but no sign of chicks. I’m starting to doubt if there was a nest here, although there are many places on this rooftop where the chicks could venture that are completely visually inaccessible to me.
Umbrella Nest
Spotted the two chicks wandering around the rooftop, drinking some puddle-water and checking out whatever they could find.
Cambie Nest
As last visit, the chick was resting in the shade near the original nest location.
New Nests
Now that most chicks are older, they’re larger, more active, and quite vocal when begging for food. As a result I’m seeing them in many locations that otherwise weren’t visible to me when they were chicks. I won’t be writing much about them since I can’t get a good view of most of these nests. However, I’m mapping them for completeness.
So far there’s West 7th Nest, Meridian Nest, Blackbird Nest, Salon Nest (spotted by a friend), Ash Nest, Mechanic Nest, and Arts Club Nest.
You can find them added to my 2024 Gull Nest map. I don’t love using Google Maps for this – I’m hoping to teach myself enough about QGIS that I’m able to use that for mapping next year.
If you happen to know the location of a gull nest in Vancouver, please send me email with the information so I can add it to my map.
Until next time.