Several observers, including the author, have noted an apparent decline in gull numbers in the coastal area in recent years. In order to test this “impression,” I examined data published in the National Audubon Society Field Notes, (formerly American Birds) Christmas Bird Counts, published by the National Audubon Society, New York, for the five year period 1980-1984 and compared the results with the latest five year period, 1990-1994. Five Christmas Bird Counts (abbreviated CBC) were chosen: Gulf Shores, AI., Ft. Morgan, AI., Perdido Bay, AI.-FI., Pensacola, Flo, and Choctawhatchee Bay, Flo The results are contained in Table 1. Numbers represent the actual numbers of gulls counted with the birds per party hour in parentheses. The average birds per party hour (B/PH) for each five year period is also given. A count was not conducted for the Choctawhatchee CBC in 1980 and 1981.
Author: Robert A. Duncan
Volume Number: 43 Year Published: 1997
Issue Number: 1
Page Number: 38
Link to article: http://birdlife.aosbirds.org/1997/Vol. 43 No 1 1997_p38-40.pdf
Link to the full issue of BirdLife: http://birdlife.aosbirds.org/1997/Vol. 43 No 1 1997.pdf
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