I write regarding the use of the term “seagull” in the July 9 Press Herald story of the plight of the gull stuck atop Victoria Mansion in Portland.
According to the National Audubon Society, “Strictly speaking, ‘gull’ is the correct, scientific term for birds in the family Laridae. ‘Seagull’ is simply a widely used colloquial nickname. There is no single species officially named ‘seagull,’ as many gulls frequently live and feed far inland rather than exclusively near the sea.”
As gulls are ubiquitous here in Maine, please use the proper term to refer to them in the future.
Harry Nelson
North Yarmouth