Off to South America

Franklin's Gulls getting ready to migrate

Sir John Franklin (1786-1847)

I saw a large flock of Franklin's Gulls the other day. They have lost the full black heads and red bills of their breeding plumage and are now preparing for the long migration to the Pacific coast of South America where they will spend the winter. Curious about the origin of this bird's name (and quite certain they weren't named for Benjamin Franklin), I discovered they were named after English Explorer, Sir John Franklin. Admiral Franklin is most famous for perishing on an ill-fated 1847 voyage in search of the Northwest Passage through Canada. Earlier in his life Franklin served as Lieutenant Governor of Tasmania in Australia.