On June 5, Michael Price wrote:

>In the late 1960's what passes for regional government here drastically
>enlarged the VCR Landfill in Burns Bog, to the S of the city. One effect was
>a massive increase in the GWGU population over the next decade. They began
>to nest on gravel rooftops all over the city, among many other locations.
>The CONI, being our latest migrant, would arrive back here about June 01 to
>find the gulls already in possession of 'their' rooftops. End of CONI as a
>locally breeding bird.

>Has anyone else noticed similar large drops or extirps in other
>communities?
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Perhaps this is a repeat of earlier "tweeters" postings, but almost certainly
it happened here in Victoria as well and, like Vancouver, was a result of the
uncontrolled use of a landfill by Glaucous-winged (summer) and other gull
species (winter). Although I was not here, I feel confident that the warm
tar-and-gravel rooftops of Victoria were as attractive to nesting CONI as
those of Vancouver, where, as a student sign painter in the 60's, I found
many nests. The "Garbage Gulls" overpopulated their traditional nesting
islands and now have became "Dumpster Gulls" here in the city, some perhaps
never tasting a fresh herring or sand lance.

But something is being done and, although not fully organized yet, the
efforts may someday bring the CONI back to our rooftops and "peeanting"
over our cities...a wonderful evening sound.

A few years ago, wires were strung 10-15 metres (30- 50 feet) over the active
portion of the Hartland landfill, effectivly reducing (but not eliminating)
gull visits. Now, wires are being fixed in strategic locations on many
downtown buildings and residential apartments (any flat roof is a target) to
disuade gull nesting. Stainless steel "downrigger" fishing line works best,
and can be mounted about 1 foot over the traditional nesting corners used by
the gulls, or in a pattern that will illiminate landing or takeoff and any
attempt at nesting.

One window washer now has a second, lucrative business...stringing wires.
And staff of the BC Buildings Corporation (they manage many Government
buildings) are removing nests during routine inspections.

It will take time, and the problem may just be shifted to other buildings
for a few years. However, a glance out my downtown office window this spring
leads me to beleive that it is working. There are definitely fewer GWGU on
the rooftops now than last sring, when there were perhaps 200 or mare pairs.
Our resident pair of Bald Eagles in Beacon Hill Park has apparently failed to
hatch young this year. They were doing a great job of taking young rooftop
gulls, but by no means could they keep up with the "explosion". An
unfortunate year to have a hatching failure...they may have helped the CONI.
We will just have to try harder.

Come to think of it, though, if we eliminate the gulls, will we force the
eagles to move elsewhere? Or will they return to their normal fish fare,
with perhaps a few raids to Great Chain Island for gull desert?

Bryan Gates, Victoria
bgates at assessment.env.gov.bc.ca