If we're taking votes, I'd prefer the Columbia (or Columbiana) Gull, which
as mentioned here before may better describe their center of abundance, the
mouth of the Columbia River.

I was reminded of this yesterday when we took a family walk along the
Columbia River in Wenatchee. We saw only a single gull, a GWxW Gull.
Although GWG's are considered regular winter residents of the Wenatchee
area, most of them are not pure birds. I assume they travel up the Columbia
River.

--Jerry <tangren at wsu.edu>

>Re: Hybrid gull naming
>
>My vote is for Olympic Gull...it's simple, rolls off the tongue nicely and
>elegantly describe a bird which is abundant on the Olympic Peninsula.
>
>I think this is a great time to formally recognize this gull. So often on
>field trips where gulls are a featured item, I find birders not all that
>interested in gulls generally. "Ah...just more gulls." Gulls are as
>successful and varied a grop as one can find in our region. Their rapid and
>continued evolution is clearly evident (I'm reminded of *The Beak of the
>Finch*) in the span of our lifetimes.
>
>Andy Stepniewski
>Wapato WA