We share observations of silver gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) harassing humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia, between August and October in 2018 and 2019. Sixteen events were recorded of gulls pecking at the skin of 16 mothers and 2 calves resting on the surface. Data were collected opportunistically from a research vessel covering 5474.2km (565h). Events were documented through photographs and unmanned aerial vehicle video recordings and persisted for an average minimum time of 20.73min (range 2.50–46.85min). At least one event of a gull consistently gouging in a pre-existing lesion was recorded on a mother. Changes in behavioural activity from the whales, which varied from slipping under the surface to travelling and performing instantaneous behavioural events, were observed in 94% (15/16) of events. These are the first known records of birds attacking humpback whales. The results are comparable to early events of kelp gull (Larus dominicanus) harassment of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) off Peninsula Valdes, Argentina, where events have escalated over the past 50 years to consistent attacks on the whales’ skin and blubber. Future research is required to monitor the trajectory of these interactions to inform management.

中文翻译：

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西澳大利亚埃克斯茅斯湾的银鸥骚扰座头鲸

我们分享了银鸥 (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) 在 2018 年至 2019 年 8 月至 10 月期间在西澳大利亚州埃克斯茅斯湾骚扰座头鲸 (Megaptera novaeangliae) 的观察结果。 记录了 16 次海鸥啄食 16 头母牛和 2 头小牛皮肤的事件在表面上。数据是从一艘覆盖 5474.2 公里（565 小时）的研究船上随机收集的。事件通过照片和无人机视频记录记录下来，平均持续时间为 20.73 分钟（范围 2.50-46.85 分钟）。至少有一次海鸥在先前存在的病变中持续凿伤的事件被记录在一位母亲身上。鲸鱼行为活动的变化，从滑到水面下到旅行和执行瞬时行为事件，在 94% (15/16) 的事件中观察到。这些是鸟类攻击座头鲸的第一个已知记录。结果与阿根廷瓦尔德斯半岛附近海带鸥 (Larus dominicanus) 骚扰南露脊鲸 (Eubalaena australis) 的早期事件相当，在过去 50 年中，事件升级为对鲸鱼皮肤和鲸脂的持续攻击。未来的研究需要监测这些相互作用的轨迹，以便为管理提供信息。