SURVEY OF HERRING GULL (Larus argentatus),GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus marinus), AND LAUGHING GULL (Larus atricilla) NESTINGCOLONIES IN JAMAICA BAY, NEW YORK

Washburn, Brian

Biologists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Park Service, New York City Audubon, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, The American Littoral Society, and other agencies documented and estimated the number of gull nesting colonies throughout the Jamaica Bay Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area in May and June of 2010. During May and June 2010, a multi-agency survey effort was conducted to document the presence and estimate the size of nesting populations of Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus), Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus), and Laughing Gulls (Larus atricilla) in the Jamaica Bay Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area (Jamaica Bay). A total of 20 locations (i.e., islands and salt marshes) were visited by field personnel and surveyed for the presence of nesting gulls. A total of 1,166 adult Herring Gulls, 184 adult Great-blacked Gulls, and 1,571 Laughing Gulls were observed on 9 separate marshes and islands. Assuming one adult gull observed represented one active nest, these numbers provide an estimate of the total nesting population for these three gull species in Jamaica Bay. Notably, a total of 375 Herring Gull nests and 130 Great Black-backed nests were found (or estimated) on these same islands and marshes during concurrent nest count surveys. Many of the observed adult gulls were likely non-breeding adult birds associated with those nesting colonies. As part of a long-term monitoring program, aerial photography was used to estimate the population of Laughing Gull nests in the Joco Marsh complex of Jamaica Bay in June of 2010. The estimated Laughing Gull nesting population in Jamaica Bay was 2,932 nests in 2010. The findings from this survey effort will provide an important baseline for future gull nesting colony survey efforts within Jamaica Bay.