Has anyone heard of anything like this? I haven't.

Dennis Paulson
Seattle


> Begin forwarded message:

>

> From: Alexandra MacKenzie <mizmak at gmail.com>

> Subject: Gull without webbing

> Date: February 23, 2022 at 12:10:40 PM PST

> To: dennispaulson <dennispaulson at comcast.net>

>

> Hello Dennis,

>

> I retired to Richland in 2018, where there's been a Slaty-backed Gull wintering over for the past few years. Today I ran into one of the birders (Elke Davis) who has taken tons of photos of it, and she was curious about an anomaly -- it has no webbing on either foot. Genetic abnormality? I said that I'd ask the expert if he had ever run across such a thing, so here I am, asking you! There is a great pic on Elke's ebird of one of the feet:

>

> https://ebird.org/checklist/S96132278 <https://ebird.org/checklist/S96132278>

>

> She says both feet look the same. Wonder if it would have trouble swimming? It seems to be surviving just fine!

>

> Any info would be greatly appreciated.

> I always enjoy seeing your FB posts.

>

> Best wishes,

> Alex MacKenzie