Subject: 09-13-98 Des Moines Marina, WA (early evening/sunset)
Date: Sep 14 00:22:36 1998
From: Maureen Ellis - me2 at u.washington.edu


Studied and pondered upon locating them on a narrow sandbar offshore just
north of the Beach Park were: A group of about 20 basic-plumaged
BONAPARTE'S gulls roosting with the usual mix of Glaucous-winged,
GW-hybrids, and one nearly-all-Western-genes gull. What was interesting
about the Bonaparte's group involved the ratio of adult vs immature.
About 75% of these birds were clearly adult, according to the Nat Geo
Guide paintings. I was wondering if this might be an indication of poor
nesting success or perhaps a normal age-related differential fall
migration (in the spring, the adults do migrate earlier than the
immatures....according to Bent's Life Histories.) Bent suggested that
little was known about the far NW (Canada/Alaska) breeding areas, thought
to be quite limited in range. Perhaps, more is known about this
species breeding areas/habits now?

Bonaparte gull flocks are usually seen near our Marina only briefly during
the seasonal shifts.

Nice sunset,
Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu Univ of WA and Des Moines, WA

"Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of
confusion and bamboozle requires vigilance, dedication, and courage."
-Carl Sagan-