Gulls in Jamaica Bay 2010 Update

Dr. Brian E. Washburn

USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center

419-625-0242brian.e.washburn@aphis.usda.gov

Research Objective

Estimate the size of gull nesting populations in the Jamaica Bay Unit of Gateway NRA

Jamaica Bay Nest Count for 2010

20 islands & marshes

May 27 to June 8, 2010

Multi-agency effort

Count of adult gulls & count of gull nests

Count of Adult Gulls

Marsh HERG GBBG

Canarsie Pol 730 49

Subway Island 245 13

Elder’s Point East 60 2

Little Egg Marsh 95 120

Broad Creek Marsh 30 0

Duck Point Marsh 6 0

TOTAL 1,166 184

Count of Gull Nests

Marsh HERG GBBG

Canarsie Pol 126 7

Subway Island 69 1

Elder’s Point East 49 2

Little Egg Marsh 95 120

Broad Creek Marsh 30 0

Duck Point Marsh 6 0

TOTAL 375 130

JFKIA

JFKIAHERG

JFKIAGBBG

JFKIALAGU

Research Objective

Estimate the population of laughing gull nests in Jamaica Bay

Aerial Photography Approach

Joco Marsh Complex

Silver Hole

East High Meadow

East JocoIsland

Joco Marsh

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

E. Joco Island

Silver Hole

E. H. Meadow

JocoN

o es

tim

ate

Nu

mb

er o

f L

AG

U N

ests

No

esti

mat

e

Joco Marsh

East High

Meadow

Silver Hole

East Joco

Island

Total Colony

2007 1,322 8 13 3 1,346

2008 1,237 13 21 9 1,280

2010 2,672 117 0 53 2,932