2010 - The End of a Fantastic Year!



As dusk falls this evening, I am beginning to reflect on what has been a really superb year for my gull studies based in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The amount and quality of the data being accumulated on the three species of gull breeding in the Islands (Larus argentatus, Larus fuscus and Larus marinus) has been so good that the gull studies have totally dominated my bird watching activities in 2010.

There is not time this evening to summarise the year - and in any case I will produce another annual report during January 2011. Looking at my data for 2010 we have ringed some 1,800 gulls (1,600 colour ringed), and I have taken over 12,000 ring reads in Guernsey and Alderney. A priority now (and here a big thanks to Rich and Margaret Austin, Charles David and Helen Wain) is getting the right computer programmes to be able to analyse the data in the years ahead.

OK - before our dinner guests knock on the door - a very big THANK YOU to everyone who has helped with these gull studies both here in the Bailiwick of Guernsey and also abroad where many people have done such a fantastic job reporting the colour rings.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to EVERYONE!!!