What Attracts Seagulls to a Lake?

Lakes, whether natural or man-made, attract seagulls for a variety of reasons. Natural lakes contain an assortment of small fish such as smelt, perch and trout, depending on the region. Fish are a major source of food for seagulls. Man-made lakes attract insects and birds -- other sources of food for seagulls.

  1. Water

    • Sea gulls are remarkably resilient. They adapt well to any terrain as long as a body of water is nearby. If you are driving in the country during hay season, you may spot seagulls flying above a tractor as it cuts alfalfa. Seagulls that fly over fields have migrated from a nearby body of water to score a rodent. If they are soaring above vehicles in a parking lot of a grocery store or fast food chain, they are searching for tidbits of food.

    Fish, Snails, Insects

    • Seagulls prefer fresh water, but they can drink seawater with the help of a special gland over their eyes that allows them to expel salt content. Big lakes, such as Lake Michigan, hold an abundance of food for gulls during the summer. Seagulls dine on medium-size fish, snails, insects floating on the water or crawling along the shoreline, fish eggs and dead birds and fish that wash ashore.

    Resting Areas

    • Shorelines provide resting and social areas for gulls during mating season. Flat or rolling sandy beaches and seagrass tufts make up their nesting areas. Boat dock posts are other resting areas as the birds scout the lake for fish close to the surface.

    People

    • During the warm summer months lakes attract people. And people attract seagulls -- for one reason. Seagulls eat the food people leave behind near picnic tables. Not ones to turn down a meal, gulls inhale the food in one gulp and linger in the area for more.