Wildlife notes

Grandparent gulls lost their entire brood, all at once. They nested under the small porch by the north entrance of the Keeper’s House – same place as last year where they successfully raised their chicks. When I first noticed Grandpa gull last year I sent a picture to the local gull expert Andrew Jacobs and asked if this was a particularly old gull as I was wondering about the darkening around its eyes. He said it was a just a pigmentation not related to age. Regardless, the name stuck. I see a lot of him out the window as he likes to sit on the deck railing. Oddly both parents have the same darkened eyes.

Grandpa and Grandma gull

Grandparent gull’s nest with two dead chicks beside and one inside the disheveled nest.

Usually when I find a dead chick or see one being killed it has wandered too far from its nest and the protection of its parents, but this is different. Here, all three chicks are very near or even in the nest. Both parents are still alive, so starvation doesn’t make sense. I wonder if it could be sickness or poisoning? Neither are good news.

Facility Work

• cleaned the solar panels
• cleaned the outside windows
• cleaned the back door

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 22
• Private: 1

Weather

Clear skies.  Strong WNW breeze in the morning, moderate WSW in the afternoon. Daytime temperatures: low 13, high 16.