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Gulls and Terns(14)

Ring-billed Gull
An abundant resident, absent in summer, found throughout the unforested parts of the region. Populations in landfills and parking lots can reach 25,000. Now that the county landfills have been modernized the numbers are down sharply to perhaps 1,000. LCBC high count of 28,260 in 1990.

Herring Gull
An uncommon winter visitor, September - March, found mostly in landfills and larger lakes. Never more than a few dozen can be found any day. LCBC high count of 36 in 1997.

Lesser Black-backed Gull
One record in Lakeland in 1977.

Bonaparte’s Gull
Uncommon winter visitor, September - March, Found at sewage lagoons and lakes. Found mostly in central Polk and nearly absent from the PPM. LCBC high count of 1929 in 1991.

Laughing Gull
A common winter visitor rare in the eastern Polk, absent only in mid summer, found in PPM and large lakes. Single day totals from landfills have exceeded 10,000 but today, because of modernized landfills, the numbers are greatly reduced 1,500 were counted in the PPM in February 1999. LCBC high count of 14,138 in 1987.

Black Tern
A common summer visitor, April - October, found mainly in PPM and wetlands. Although over 3,900 were seen in one flock in September 1997, they usually number in the low hundreds or less.

Gull-billed Tern *
An uncommon summer resident, March - August, found mostly in PPM. Three birds were present through out the winter of 2002. Nesting colonies of 17 were reported in 1990.

Caspian Tern
A fairly common permanent resident of the lakes of western Polk. Although a flock of 750 were seen on 11/20/2000, smaller numbers are more common. LCBC high count of 70 in 1997.

Royal Tern
A rare visitor from the coast, seen in almost every month in small numbers mainly in the PPM of western Polk County. High count of 26 in December 1990. LCBC high count of 3 in 1999.

Sandwich Tern
An uncommon migrant or post-breeder, late April - December, found mostly in phosphate mines. Prior to 1989 there were no County records. Usually found in small numbers but 554 were counted on August 21 1999.

Common Tern
Two individuals in Auburndale in 1987 and the last record from the PPM in April 1988.

Forster’s Tern
A permanent resident less common in mid summer. Found on many lakes and phosphate pits. Numbers as high as 4,100 were reported in September 1997 but counts of 1,000 or less are more common. LCBC high count of 391 in 1975.

Least Tern *
A fairly common summer resident, April - August, found on lake edges, phosphate mines and large flat rooftops. Nest colonies can contain over 100 individuals. High count of 646 in July 1990. (T)

Sooty Tern
One report in 1973, the accuracy of which is unknown.