FULL INSTRUCTIONS

PREPARE TO COUNT GULLS

1. LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY GULLS BY AGE
   
   To participate you will need to be able to distinguish between adults and subadults. Optionally, you also can record the species of gulls you see. This may be easier to do after you have had some practice observing and counting them. Click here to learn more about gulls.
   
   
2. FIND ONE OR MORE STUDY SITES TO COUNT GULLS
   
   You can conduct Gulls Galore anywhere you find gulls. You may want to scout for Study Sites before you set out to conduct your counts. Gulls may be found near garbage dumps, parks with fountains, ponds or lakes, recently plowed fields, beaches, fishing piers, and boat launches.
   
   
3. COMPLETE A HABITAT FORM
   
   

   For each Study Site you should fill out a Habitat Form before you count your birds. You can use the same Study Site for PigeonWatch, Crows Count, or Gulls Galore. Only fill out a Habitat Form once even if you use the site for more than one project.
   Click here for habitat definitions and forms.
   
   

4. PRACTICE COUNTING GULLS (optional)
   
   You may want to print a Tally Sheet and practice counting gulls one time before you collect data to submit to the Lab. This may help you to decide how to count the birds while they are moving around and flying away.
   

MATERIALS NEEDED

To conduct Gulls Galore you will need

• a Tally Sheet
• pen or pencil, and clipboard or other hard surface to lean on

You may also want to take along

• a bird field guide
• binoculars
• camera

CONDUCT YOUR COUNT

1. AFTER ARRIVING AT YOUR STUDY SITE, on the Tally Sheet fill in
   1. site name or number (needs to match the Habitat Form)
   2. date and time you start observing
   3. the species of gulls that are present (If you are unable to identify the species, write "unknown" as a species.)
      
      
2. COUNT THE GULLS AND OBSERVE THEIR BEHAVIORS.
   Record
   
   1. the total number of gulls
   2. the number of adults
   3. the number of subadults
   4. the number of juveniles
   5. the behaviors you observe

   Click here to learn more about gulls.

3. RECORD THE TIME WHEN YOU FINISH AND THE LENGTH OF YOUR OBSERVATION (duration).
   
   
4. SUBMIT YOUR DATA.
   Mail your Habitat Forms and Tally Sheets to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Send only one Habitat Form per Study Site. You can send multiple Tally Sheets for each Study Site.