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Subj: thoughts on ross's gull

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Date: Mon, 19 Dec 1994 14:22:28 -0500 (EST)
From: "Peter D. Hunt" <Peter.D.Hunt at DARTMOUTH.EDU>
Subject: thoughts on ross's gull
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Comments: To: birdchat at arizvm1.bitnet

One wonders if the late Ross's Gull from Port Weller, Ontario was the same
individual that was in Quebec the previous week. There seems to be some
precedent for seabirds to follow the St. Lawrence upstream to the Great
Lakes.

And with reference to its untimely demise at the hands of a Great Horned Owl.
I would almost be willing to bet that there was something about the Ross's
Gull that made it easier prey than one might expect given the numbers of
other gulls (to quote Gerry Rising: "...owl had picked out this bird from the
dozens of other more common gulls"). Quite possibly its behavior, schedule,
and/or roosting spot was slightly different, and the owl didn't have to pick
it out from anything.

Does this tie into the thread on collecting vagrants? ;-)

Peter Hunt
Hanover, NH
peter.hunt at dartmouth.edu