Subject: Re: Glaucous-wing Gull Survival
Date: Nov 8 12:28:07 1994
From: Don Baccus - donb at verdix.com


From: Jim Elder <jime at eskimo.com>
>
> On Mon, 7 Nov 1994, bob obrien wrote:
>
> > We had a glaucous-winged in Laurelhurst Park several winters in a row a few yea
> > rs ago that was also banded on the Washington Coast and (at that time was 25 ye
> > ars old). Gulls are long-lived birds once they make it to maturity. Bob O'Bri
> > en, Portland.
> >
> How did the bander (or you) know it was 25 years old when it was banded?

I'm certain you're joking, but on the offhand chance you're serious,
he obviously meant 25 yrs old when discovered at the park. The "at least"
modifier indicates the bird was of indeterminate age when banded. This
usually means "adult", i.e. old enough to not be wearing distinctive
plumage of a known age such as hatch year, second year etc. Once birds
achieve their adult plumage, they are often impossible to precisely age.

-Don Baccus-