Gull patterns on Lake Michigan

[byronkbutler_06 at comcast.net]

Due to predominance of State Listing in birding, very little attention is paid to regional birding when a geographic region encompasses more than one state. As a result, I have been unable to find information on Lake Michigan as a birding region. In discussions with birders from several states I am under the impression that no one is familiar with avifaunal patterns on Lake Michigan as a whole. 

As a result, I am developing a project to study the pattern of gull distributions, abundances, and movement patterns on Lake Michigan, year around. Since this is an effort that requires input from a lot of people, scattered around the lake, a vehicle for communication is required. To this end, Brad Bumgardner (Interpretive Naturalist at Indiana Dunes State Park) has created the "Great Lakes Patterns" topical forum on his Indiana Birding Forum website.   http://inbirds.8.forumer.com/  

The "Great Lakes Patterns" forum will be found in the "Regional Population / Migration Dynamics" subjects category at this website.

This discussion is open to everyone with an interest in the subject and I hope you will participate in the effort to eludicate gull patterns. Together we can get a better understanding of where and when the various gull species can be seen in the Lake Michigan area. 

"Gull frolics," i.e., organized field trips focused on gulls, are popular in IL and WI, but less so in IN and MI. Are there more gulls on the western side of the lake, or does it just seem that way? Gull frolics seem to be fall and winter activities, however, they can be conducted all year around. 

Please go to the "Great Lakes Patterns" discussion group and share your knowledge, ideas and questions. To participate, you must register in the Indiana Birding Forum (which is easy) but you will not be subscribing to a listserv and no email will come to your inbox. Forums are good alternatives to listservs. I hope to see you there!

Byron K. Butler
Chesterton, Porter Co., Indiana



 
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