Hi Sam - Here's a link to a useful tutorial on gull identification
created by Dennis Paulson. It's on the Slater Museum website:

http://goo.gl/LXbZBe

Look in the right hand column for links to photos, an ID chart, and
measurements (where the gulls are listed in order of size).

Also, Michael Donohue used to teach classes through Seattle Audubon on
gull identification. I don't know if he is still doing that, but I would
suggest getting in touch with the education manager at Seattle Audubon
to ask if they plan an upcoming class on gull identification at some
point. The website says the phone number is (206) 523-8243 ext. 19. The
email is education at seattleaudubon.org.

Another approach would be to go on some Audubon or WOS (Washington
Ornithological Society) field trips to areas likely to have gulls and
tell the trip leader that you're interested in improving your gull ID
skills. The more gulls you see, the better you'll get.

Good luck!

Jane Hadley
Seattle, WA


> Message: 7
> Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2015 09:58:58 -0700
> From: Sam Sudar <sudar.sam at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Tweeters] How to Get Better at Gulls
> To: tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Message-ID:
> <CAAvTfrm4O=YG_WW45=He5Oykh538zOoaUgMU3bxvT2HX_SKzRQ at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> I'm trying to get better at gulls. I've done some light studying of
> the *Peterson
> Reference Guides to Gulls of the Americas *(
> http://www.amazon.com/Peterson-Reference-Guides-Gulls-Americas/dp/0618726411/).
> The information is interesting and in-depth, but it still is difficult for
> a beginner to apply (or at least for me to apply). I went out yesterday
> feeling informed and prepared and immediately found an adult gull that I
> couldn't ID, even with decent (if distant) looks and the book in hand.
>
> Pages like the TheBirdGuide.com (http://thebirdguide.com/gulls/)
> complicate
> matters even more, noting that western gulls in the pacific northwest are
> lighter than most field guides acknowledge.
>
> Does anyone have recommendations for how to get better at gulls? Are there
> books I'm missing? Are there courses available in the Seattle area? What I
> would really love is a decision tree for northwest gulls, even if only for
> adults.
>
> Thank you!