>1)Sorry if I sound harsh, but the reason why species are designated by the
>AOU is because IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE A DISTINCT SPECIES, the OLYMPIC GULL IS
>A HYBRID. For this reason alone it can be affectunately called "olympic
>gull" but formalized project such as CBC still must be noted s GW x W
>hybrid.

>Scott Downes

For my two cents worth:

While "olympic gull" might be a catchier name for these W x GW hybrids,
why invent a new name when many birders are already using "puget sound
gulls" to describe them?

It seems to me if a term already exists, we should just use it.

By the way thanks for the great comments and refenences on this particular
thread.

Good birding,

Tim

Tim Shelmerdine
Lake Oswego/Aurora, Oregon
shelmert at mail.clackesd.k12.or.us