Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
THE GULL PROBLEM
Where there are landfills there are gulls, and lots of both can be found all around
the South Bay shore. The grey-and-white-feathered California Gulls are the most
obvious garbage grazers among bay wildlife species. These birds pose a big threat
to shorebird populations. In recent surveys, gulls ate 61 percent of Avocet chicks
and 23 percent of Stilt Chicks, and they preyed on 50 percent of Snowy Plover
nests in South Bay salt ponds. In 1980, 24 gull nests were counted in the South
Bay; by 2008, the gull population had exploded to an estimated 46,000, and the
gulls had expanded their breeding range to Alcatraz and the Farallon Islands. But
by far the most gulls are found in the South Bay. Biologist Jill Demers notes that
the salt ponds offer great breeding habitat for gulls—they are similar to inland sa-
line lakes such as Mono Lake that the gulls prefer. How can other species be pro-
tected from gulls? Biologists say culling individual gulls doesn't work, nor does
addling their eggs because it is too labor-intensive. Hazing—with fireworks, dogs,
falcons, ATVs, and trucks—reduced gulls at one landfill, but they just moved to an-
other one. A regional plan may be needed to control them.
Gulls love landfills. (Max Eissler)
just below tide levels, with grading and not grading, and with creating and
not creating topography. Then they studied the results in places like the
Muzzi Marsh.
Phyllis Faber, who has been monitoring Muzzi for more than 30 years,
sums up the take-home message: “We've learned to give more careful con-
sideration to final elevations, to allow tidal drainage channels to form,
promote good tidal exchange, and establish diverse salt marsh flora.” Faber
