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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Sadly there are not 110 Black-crowned
Night Herons hidden away in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Lake</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Calumet</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>; only
10-15. That was a typo in the original Chicago DOE FAQ on the gull
management project.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Also, they really blew the colors; the
correct matchings are:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Lake</span></font></st1:PlaceType><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Calumet</st1:PlaceName></span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>, - yellow and blue; Dime Pier - orange and green.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Randi Doeker<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Chicago</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The following is posted on behalf of the Chicago Dept. of
Environment. Questions should go to <a href="mailto:birds@cityofchicago.org">birds@cityofchicago.org</a>
. My executive summary:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>If you see a gull with a colored tag on its wing, send an
email to:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=red face="Bookman Old Style"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";color:red;font-weight:
bold'><a href="mailto:james.a.rader@aphis.usda.gov">james.a.rader@aphis.usda.gov</a></span></font></b><b><font
size=2 face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'> <font color=red><span style='color:red'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Date – Time<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Color of tag<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Location seen; be as specific as possible <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Number of gulls with that tag color<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Your name and phone number<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Randi Doeker<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Chicago</span></font></st1:City></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="MS Sans Serif"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif";
font-weight:bold'>Tagged Gulls and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>
Ring-billed Gull Management Pilot Project<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'>The Chicago Department of
Environment (DOE) has undertaken a research project with USDA's Wildlife
Services biologists to help determine how to stabilize the Ring-billed gull
population and manage the conflict with humans along the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> lakefront.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'>April 2007 counts of RB
Gulls at the research locations determined that the populations at the 2 sites
have increased by 400-500% since 1999 (an increase much greater than local
experts had estimated). It is unknown what the increase in the regional
population is, but in 1999, the last time that a survey of the regional
population was taken, there were over 67,000 nesting pairs (134,000 ring-billed
gulls) in the region. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'>Additionally, anecdotal
reports indicate that less aggressive birds (including Forster's Terns) are
being harmed by the gull explosion.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'>More details on the
project, including data when it is available, are available by e-mailing birds@cityofchicago.org.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'>Birders are asked to help
the researchers by reporting any sitings of RB Gulls with colored tags on their
wings.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'>DOE thanks you for your
efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="MS Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Bookman Old Style"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>*
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
* * * * * <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>This document follows on the
City of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>’s
April 23, 2007 press release.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><b><font size=2 color=black face="Bookman Old Style"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";color:black;
font-weight:bold'>Chicago</span></font></b></st1:City></st1:place><b><font
size=2 color=black face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Bookman Old Style";color:black;font-weight:bold'> Ring-billed Gull
Management Pilot Project<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'>May 2007 – FAQs<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>The City of Chicago has requested Wildlife Services, a program of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, conduct a research project to limit the number
of ring-billed gulls that hatch this year and determine if ring-billed gulls
without young cause fewer problems.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'>What is the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>
Gull Damage Management Pilot Project?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· The City’s Gull Damage Management Pilot Project is
a non-lethal way to manage increases in the ring-billed gull population and
make <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> a
cleaner and safer place. The project is designed to gauge the effect of oiling
gull eggs, with an ultimate goal of reducing the severity and frequency of
conflicts with Ring-billed gulls by stabilizing the population.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Over several weeks, Wildlife Service biologists will oil
eggs in ring-billed gull nests with food-grade corn oil on Dime Pier just south
of Navy Pier and a dike northeast of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Gull</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Island</st1:PlaceType> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Lake</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Calumet</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Oiling the eggs will prevent young from hatching by
preventing oxygen from penetrating the shell.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Control nests will be marked and not oiled.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Approximately 400-600 breeding gulls will be tagged with
leg bands and patagial tags. Half of these gulls will be from the control
population and half from the treated population. A researcher will observe
tagged gulls throughout the summer to gauge differences in behavior between
ring-billed gulls with or without young.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· One nesting adult from each nest in the research
population will be marked, and there will be four distinctly marked
populations: (1) Dime Pier, oiled nests, orange patagial tag; (2) Dime Pier,
control nests, green patagial tags; (3) Lake Calumet, oiled nests, yellow patagial
tags; (4) Lake Calumet, control nests, blue patagial tags.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Juvenile gulls from the control nests will also be tagged
and monitored.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=red
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:red'>· <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>The city urges birders to
post their tagged ring-billed gull sitings by sending an e-mail to <a
href="mailto:james.a.rader@aphis.usda.gov">james.a.rader@aphis.usda.gov</a>
with the following information:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=red
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:red;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=red
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:red'>·</span></font><font size=2 color=navy
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:navy'> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Date and Time patagial tagged
ring-billed gull was observed<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:navy'>· <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Color of patagial tag on
ring-billed gull<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:navy'>· <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Location where patagial
tagged ring-billed gull was observed (street address and/or as specific as
possible)<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:navy'>· <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Number of gulls observed
with patagial tags at this location (and colors of tags if multiple tagged
birds were observed)<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:navy'>· <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Observer name and
contact telephone number<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=red
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:red;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'>Why is it important to stabilize <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>’s gull
population?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Scientists have shown a potential connection between the
presence of ring-billed gulls on a beach and positive tests for <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>E. coli </span></i>bacteria in the water, which leads
to swim bans. For example, a Lake County Health Department study of five
beaches found that more than half of the <i><span style='font-style:italic'>E.
coli </span></i>bacteria in the water samples were from birds (Mike Adam,
2004). A <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext'>Chicago</span></font></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><font
color=black><span style='color:windowtext'> study estimated the City
experiences $2.4 million in costs from swim bans (“The Value of Chicago
Beaches,” Sabina Lee Shaikh, 2006). (To our knowledge, no studies have
shown a correlation between human health and avian <i><span style='font-style:
italic'>E. coli. </span></i>However, USEPA uses <i><span style='font-style:
italic'>E.coli </span></i>as their indicator to determine swim bans because
their studies indicate that <i><span style='font-style:italic'>E. coli </span></i>is
one of the best bacterial indicators to assess the risk of acquiring a
gastrointestinal illness as a result of using recreational waters. The USEPA <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>E.coli </span></i>indicator protocol is the only
recreational water testing protocol accepted by the Federal government.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
Gull droppings accumulate at entertainment, recreational, and dining
establishments in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>,
especially along the lakefront. Attracted to food, gulls frequent eating
establishments near the <st1:place w:st="on">Lake</st1:place>. Navy Pier, the
Chicago Park District, and others invest resources in mitigating gull damage.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
Anecdotal evidence suggests that other bird species may be impacted by the
increase in the ring-billed gull population.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'>Is the goal to eliminate the ENTIRE Gull colony or just
control the numbers?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
The goal of this project is NOT to eliminate the entire regional ring-billed
gull colony. Oiling ring-billed gull eggs in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> will help to stabilize the increase
in the local ring-billed gull population, but it will not decrease the existing
population, especially given that ring-billed gulls live for an average of
10-15 years.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'>How many ring-billed gulls are there in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
The number and size of ring-billed gull colonies across <st1:place w:st="on">Northeastern
Illinois</st1:place> has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. [1]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
In 1999, the last time that a survey of the regional population was taken,
there were over 67,000 nesting pairs (134,000 ring-billed gulls) in the region.
[2]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
Based on population surveys of individual sites, we believe that the
ring-billed gull population is significantly higher by now. Initial data from
2007 suggest that gull populations increased more than 500% between 1999 and
2007 on Dime Pier and more than 400% in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Lake</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Calumet</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
during the same time frame.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'>How many ring-billed gulls is this project targeting?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
2,914 nests (7,396 eggs) were oiled at Dime Pier; 15,000 nests (41,753 eggs)
were oiled on a dike in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Lake</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Calumet</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. At least 200
nests in each of the two colonies were left un-oiled and tagged as part of the
research study to monitor their movement. At the <st1:place w:st="on">Calumet</st1:place>
site, additional nests were left unoiled because to have oiled them would have
exceeded the City’s Federal and State permits for this project. (In
preparing the permit application, the city assumed a 200% increase in
ring-billed gull nests in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Lake</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Calumet</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> region from the
1999 colonial water bird survey. Initial data indicate that the regional
population increase is likely closer to 400%).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
The start of this project was timed to ensure that only eggs 14 days and
younger are oiled, in keeping with the US Humane Society’s protocol.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
Other nests in the city, for instance on inland lakes and rivers or on roof
tops, will not be included in the project.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
The only other permit for gull egg depredation within the City of <st1:City
w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City> is held by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for
under 1,000 nests on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>
locks.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'>Are you just targeting one egg per nest, or all the eggs in
the nest?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
The USDA is oiling every egg in the nests they are targeting, but they are not
targeting every nest in the colony.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'>Did the City get all applicable permits?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
The City acquired permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, after receiving the necessary Form 37 from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
In accordance with the National Environmental Protection Act, (NEPA), USDA
prepared a categorical exclusion for these permits.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'>Are other birds harmed in this process?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>No.
There were a few other birds (Herring gulls, Canada geese, Black-crowned night
herons) nesting or loafing near the project sites, but none of them were oiled
or disturbed during the field work of this project. The 1<font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'>0-1</span></font>5 Black-crowned night heron nests on the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Lake</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Calumet</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
dike were unexpectedly discovered during an initial field visit. Upon siting
them, the USDA wildlife biologists stopped work to confer with IDNR. Per
IDNR’s recommendation, USDA wildlife biologists maintained a buffer from
the nests for the two days they were on the dike for oiling and tagging,
ensuring that they did not affect the herons’ behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'>How will the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>
Gull Damage Management Pilot Project improve quality of life in the city?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
Reducing the number of gulls hatched in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>
should help limit the number of gulls that frequent our entertainment,
recreational, and dining establishments.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
Gulls with no chicks will not need to find as much food, so they may visit
Chicago Beaches less frequently.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
The project is designed in part to gauge the effect that oiling ring-billed
gull eggs has on e-coli levels in near shore waters, and thus the effect on
swim bans.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'>How will you know if the program is successful?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>The
City is heavily invested in the research activity to determine the impacts of
this effort.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
As part of our research effort, ring-billed gulls will be marked with a leg
band and patagial tag. The tagging does not harm the bird, and is a commonly
used research practice.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>·
Ring-billed gulls will be observed throughout the summer to gauge differences
in behavior between ring-billed gulls with or without young. A trained
biologist will monitor at sites of historical ring-billed gull concentrations.
The <font color=black><span style='color:black'>Gulls sightings may be reported
to USDA researchers by local birders.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· The City will compare the Chicago Park District’s
near shore <i><span style='font-style:italic'>E. Coli </span></i>data from the
2007 beach season with data from past years.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Land owners and managers (e.g. Navy Pier, the Chicago Park
District) will be surveyed to determine if the cost and effort of cleaning up
gull droppings decreases as a result of the project.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Full evaluation of this project is expected in September,
2007. The City is happy to share this project’s data with those who
request it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Over the long-term, bird counts and studies such as the
Colonial Waterbird Survey will be examined to estimate the impact the Chicago
Gull Management Pilot Project has had on other bird species.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'>What else is the City or others doing to reduce
conflicts between humans and gull populations?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Last year the Chicago Park District introduced covered
trash cans and installed signs urging the public to not feed gulls.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· The Chicago Park District tested three systems to limit
gull loafing last year: border collies to chase gulls, a grid-wire system in
the sand at a beach, and modifications to field house roofs.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'>What can individuals do to reduce conflicts with
gulls?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Avoid feeding gulls and other nuisance birds.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Dispose of food and litter in enclosed trash receptacles.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'>Why are there so many gulls in a city with no
oceans?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Gulls prefer open areas, making urban and suburban lots,
beaches and parks ideal habitat.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Gulls are highly adaptable, and can eat almost anything
including insects, smaller animals, and food from garbage cans. They can eat
their 24 hour calorie needs in 15 minutes at a trash can.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Adult gulls have no predators in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'>What else do we know about ring-billed gulls?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Ring-billed gulls are faithful to their nesting sites:
69% return to the colony of their birth to breed themselves; 90% return at some
point to the location of previous nests.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Ring-billed gulls are migratory. They did not begin
breeding in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Illinois</st1:State></st1:place>
until the 1970’s.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· Ring-billed gulls are generally 16 inches long, with a 49
inch wingspan.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>· The longest known ring-billed gull lifespan in the wild
is 23 years, but the average ring-billed gull lifespan is 10-15 years.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=3 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black'>For further inquiries, please contact </span></font><font
color=blue face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:blue'><a href="mailto:birds@cityofchicago.org">birds@cityofchicago.org</a></span></font><font
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>.<font
color=blue><span style='color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=blue
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>The project is part of the <st1:City
w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City> Bird Agenda, which sets forward the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>’s strategy
to improve bird habitats, decrease bird collisions with buildings, and manage
nuisance species in collaboration with over a dozen partner organizations. The <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> Bird Agenda is
available on the Department of Environment’s website, </span></font></i></b><b><i><font
size=2 color=blue face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Bookman Old Style";color:blue;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>www.cityofchicago.org/environment</span></font></i></b><b><i><font
size=2 color=black face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Bookman Old Style";color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>.
Recent City of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>
actions resulting from the Bird Agenda are available by emailing<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><i><font size=2 color=blue
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";
color:blue;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>birds@cityofchicago.org</span></font></i></b><font
size=2 color=black face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Bookman Old Style";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>………………………………………………………………………………………………………….<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>Footnotes:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>[1]
Data from the USGS Breeding Bird Survey for the period of 1980-2005 indicate
that ring-billed gull population has increased 31% per year (P < 0.04) in
Illinois and remained stable in Wisconsin (5.2% per year, P = 0.16), Indiana
(-3.6% per year, P = 0.83) and United States Department of the Interior, Fish
and Wildlife Service<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>(USFWS)
Region 3 (0.9% per year, P = 0.59). (Sauer et al. 2005 – need full
citation)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Bookman Old Style"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style"'>[2]
The 1999 Colonial Waterbird Survey covered the shoreline and Islands of the
Great Lakes, as well as some inland colonies near the shore of the <st1:place
w:st="on">Great Lakes</st1:place>. Survey data indicated there were 7,381
nesting pairs of Ringbilled Gulls on the <st1:State w:st="on">Illinois</st1:State>
portion of the <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Lake Michigan</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType>, an additional 31,161 pairs of Ring-billed
Gulls along the <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> portion of the <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Lake Michigan</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType>,
and 29,166 pairs of Ring-billed gulls at 21 sites along the southern half of the
Wisconsin portion of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Lake
Michigan</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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