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Projects Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

Summary

Status in VT: Increased by 200% (0 to 2 blocks). Greatest increase in Champlain Valley.
Data from other research: Young Island: more than 10,000 pairs nested annually for the past 30 years on Young Island. Nests also on Papasquash Island and Rock Island.
Conservation status: State rank S1B; S5N
Other atlases: NY and ON: range expansions
VT’s role in North American range: VT is at the southern edge of the range.
Causes of change since first Atlas: Recent decrease in abundance due to reduction in available food resources resulting from landfill closures and loss of cropland acreage.
Management/Monitoring recommendations: population control on Young Island, with the goal of restoring natural vegetation, includes egg-oiling and shooting.

Population Trends

First Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (1976-1981)

Species Account

Second Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (2003 – 2007)

Change in Distribution

Links

Encyclopedia of Life

All About Birds