Gull Island Birding Cruise, June 1, 2014

We had a great day to sail to Gull Island in Grand Traverse Bay.  We were able to observe the herring gull colony, mute swans, cormorants and Caspian terns.  Bill Scharf counted 45 Caspian tern nests, which is good news for this threatened species.  We noted many fewer cormorants this year.

Our thanks to our presenters Jenee Rowe of the Leelanau Conservancy and Bill Scharf, and to the Leelanau Peninsula Birding Festival.

Remains of the house on Gull Island

Close up of the old house foundation and chimneys

Gull Island Sail Participants

Thanks also to all who sailed with us.  Great to have you aboard. --Capt. Tom

Gull Behavior Topic of Thursday's Great Lakes Seminar

On Thursday May 30th at 7pm, the Inland Seas Education Association will host a screening of the movie Signals for Survival, an in-depth study of behavior and communication of the lesser great blacked-backed and herring gulls. The viewing will be followed by a Q&A session with Dr. Bill Scharf, a local ornithologist. This seminar is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Dr. Scharf has dedicated most of his career to the study of herring gulls. For over 30 years he has examined trends and noted abnormalities of gulls on Gull Island in Grand Traverse Bay. His research has helped the Leelanau Conservancy, who owns Gull Island, write a management plan that protects the island as it is home to thousands of herring gulls that nest there from April through June. Inland Seas will host a sail to Gull Island on Sunday, June 2nd, as part of the Leelanau Peninsula Bird Festival.

Dr. Bill Scharf aboard the Schoolship at Gull Island

You can accompany Dr. Scharf and educators from the Leelanau Peninsula Bird Festival, Leelanau Conservancy and Inland Seas on a trip to Gull Island on Sunday, June 2nd.  Click here for more infomation.

--Tom Kelly