Great Black-backed Gulls on Appledore Island
Dr. Julie Ellis began banding Herring Gulls and Great Black-Backed Gulls on Appledore Island, Maine in 2004. As a researcher at the Shoals Marine Lab, Dr. Ellis’ work focuses on the interactions between Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls, their population trends in the Gulf of Maine, and the effects that these two species have on coastal marine communities of New England.
Dr. Ellis and long-time volunteer banding assistant Bill Clark set up a gull trap.
Her banded birds have been re-sighted by members of the public as far south as Florida. Her research relies on people like you–birders, beachgoers, casual observers, to report banded birds, and photos are always welcome! You can read more about Dr. Ellis’ banding research at her research page through the Shoals Marine Lab.
You can report your sightings directly to this blog as a comment, or email Dr. Ellis at: julie.ellis@tufts.edu.
Hi,
I have 2 photographss of 2E2 taken on October 23, 2010 at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
http://o6cpcs.blogspot.com/2010/10/greater-black-backed-gull-102210-lot-7.html
(click on the pictures for a larger version where you can clearly see the bands)
By: Michael on October 25, 2010
at 2:03 pm
[...] been working since pre-history on a gull banding project out on Appledore Island in southern Maine. Her study, involving both Herring Gulls and Great Black-Backed Gulls, requires a couple rounds of bird [...]
By: Gull banding in Maine; wanna join? « SEANET Blog on March 10, 2011
at 8:57 pm
I took a picture of two gulls fighting over a crab, when i looked a the picture after i noticed a band around its leg , it is C17 it was on Hampton beach 8-17-11 is this of any importance.
By: jon worthen on August 12, 2011
at 12:06 pm
I took a picture of a gull today at Hampton beach the gull had a green band with white letters L56 on it ,, is this of any importance thanks
By: jon worthen on September 5, 2011
at 8:25 pm
I have no idea if this is related to your project but on 5/30/2012 I saw what I believe was a juvenile herring gull with a green leg band, # K82.
By: Karen Sitts on June 1, 2012
at 2:08 pm
Ha – forgot to say WHERE I saw K82 — Misquamacut Beach in Rhode Island.
By: Karen Sitts on June 1, 2012
at 2:09 pm
Hi Karen! Thanks for this report – the bird was banded last summer as a chick on Appledore Island, so this is its first resight off the island! Thanks very much for this information. Please feel free to send more resights our way. Take care! julie
By: jellis04 on June 7, 2012
at 3:47 pm
I photographed a young herring gull today at Cape May Point State Park in New Jersey today (7/2/2012) with a green K58 band as well as a USGS band that I could not read. I’m curious about where this bird came from.
By: Tiffany Kersten on July 3, 2012
at 2:28 am
Hey Tiffany! This bird was banded as a chick on Appledore in July, 2011. This is the first time it has been resighted – so interesting to know it is in Cape May! Thanks very much for your report. Feel free to send more my way. Best wishes, julie
By: jellis04 on July 5, 2012
at 1:45 pm
Exciting! It is very interesting to see where these birds are traveling. Thanks for your work, Julie.
By: Karen Sitts on July 5, 2012
at 5:50 pm
Thanks for the report!
Julie C. Ellis, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Tufts University
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
200 Westboro Rd.
North Grafton, MA 01536
Tel: 508 887 4933
http://seanetters.wordpress.com/
http://gullsofappledore.wordpress.com/
By: jellis04 on July 5, 2012
at 6:43 pm
Hi! I protect beach nesting birds in NJ and today at one of my sites, I saw a Black Back Gull with a black band, white letters – 2C2. He had a back left foot, it was totally curled under, but he walked on it kind of like it was a stump. I would love to know the history of this bird. He was seen this afternoon in Sea Bright, NJ, which is near Sandy Hook.
Thanks! Pam
By: Pam Prichard on July 10, 2012
at 9:39 pm
Hi Good afternoon, I have been been feeding a seagull for several years and he is tagged with a black tag with yellow writing, similar to HO2, although I am still trying to get a good look to confirm. I write asking if this could be one of your birds. I live in Bristol, England, Great Britain.
By: Ann Cleaves on August 2, 2012
at 5:02 pm
Hi,
I think I sighted another of your juv herring gulls today, 9/14/12, on Little Beach Island, E.B. Forsythe NWR, New Jersey. R01 dark green band on left leg with silver BBL band, partial sequence of 767202 on the right leg. He/she was enjoying a blue crab. I have photos if you’d like them.
-Tiffany
By: Tiffany Kersten on September 14, 2012
at 6:52 pm
Hello,
On December 5th, 2012, I found a Great Black Backed Gull with a black band 7E3 on the left leg and a silver band on the right. I photographed the bird on the beach in Pt. Pleasant, NJ on the south side of the Manasquan Inlet.
By: Alyssa Della Fave on December 6, 2012
at 11:44 pm
Not sure if it’s one of yours. On 12/16/12 we took a photo of a Gull…sorry don’t know what kind, on Fort Myers Beach in Florida. It had two bands. One was green with X25 and the other was a silver metal one, the word Call and a couple numbers could only be identified. I’d love to send you a picture if you let me know how. Is it one of yours? If so, can you tell me about it? Thanks much!
By: Diane on December 16, 2012
at 9:57 pm
Hi, I’m a commercial fisherman out of New Bedford, MA. On January 28th I spotted a seagull tagged 4V9 at George’s Banks coordinates 40 53.08N, 66 52.66W
By: FisherkIng on January 30, 2013
at 12:26 pm
Thanks for your resight! 4V9 is a Great Black-backed gull that was banded as a chick on Appledore, Maine on July 17, 2012. He or she was seen again 5 days later on Appledore but hasn’t been seen since. Great to know 4V9 is still alive and well!
By: jellis04 on February 6, 2013
at 1:56 am
Wow, pretty cool. Ive seen some other banded seagulls before but never knew where to report them. I see any others, I’ll let you know and try to get pictures.
By: FisherkIng on February 10, 2013
at 1:38 am
[...] we look toward the summer, our own Dr. Julie Ellis is gearing up for the year’s field season on Appledore Island in Maine. Appledore is the site of the Shoals Marine Lab, jointly run by [...]
By: Thanks to donors, students are island bound! « SEANET Blog on February 15, 2013
at 4:30 pm
Greetings, I am here on Fort Myers Beach in Florida and spotted a gull with a bright red band on his leg on the beach (with other, non-banded gulls). I wonder if this if an Appledore Island gull…and if so, what a coincidence as my family is very connected with Star Island. From, Jean Fuller Gest
By: Boom Restaurants on March 5, 2013
at 11:00 am
Hi Jean! this is not an Appledore gull, but I’ll ask around to see if I can find the source. But, so glad you wrote us! I’ve spent many years at the Shoals and it’s really a home-away-from-home for me. Always good to hear from someone with connections out there. Keep your eyes peeled for other banded gulls – you might find one of ours! Best wishes, Julie
By: jellis04 on March 5, 2013
at 1:30 pm