Flock Recruitment in Franklin's Gulls

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Abstract
We examined the calling behavior and flight paths of Franklin''s Gulls (Larus pipixcan) as ptential mechanisms for recuriting flock members. Away from the breeding colonies, high call rates of gulls in thermal flocks could facilitate the recruitment of other gulls into these flocks. Within the breeding colonies there was no evidence that calling by departing birds played a role in flock formation. Despite their linear flight paths, departing gulls spent more time flying over the colony than necessary. This behavior might increase the potential that a departing gull is detected by other gulls or might enable a departing gull to locate other departing gulls.

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