Diet and feeding ecology of great black‐backed gulls (Laws marinus) at a southern Irish breeding colony

The diet of great black‐backed gulls (Larus marinus) on Cape Clear Island, Ireland consists largely offish and auks. Other foods, including mammals, crabs and goose barnacles (Lepas), represent less than 10% of the diet by weight. Most fish consumed are obtained as waste from fishing boats. The use of otoliths to determine fish dimensions and problems with the technique are discussed.