Western Gull

Description:

The Western gull is a large gull that can get to 60 cm long. It has a white head and body, and gray wings, a yellow bill with a red spot. This spot is near the end of the bill and chicks peck this area to stimulate feeding. Juveniles are mottled brown, with a dark bill and dark eyes, and pinkish-gray legs. The juvenile plumage varies and takes on more of the adult plumage characteristics each successive year. Western Gulls nest on the ground, laying 2-3 well-camouflaged eggs on a pad of grass or other vegetation. At birth the mottled coloration of the down-covered chick makes it difficult for predators to spot.

Habitat:

Cabrillo National Monument The park offers a superb view of San Diegos harbor and skyline. At the highest point of the park stands the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which has been a San Diego icon since 1854. A statue and museum in the Visitor Center commemorate Juan Rodrguez Cabrillo's exploration of the coast of California. In a former army building an exhibit tells the story of the coast artillery on Point Loma. In the winter, migrating gray whales can be seen off the coast. The two-mile Bayside Trail affords spectacular views of San Diego Bay and the city beyond, and takes you through one of the last remaining remnants of coastal sage scrub habitat in the world. The rocky intertidal area is one of the best protected examples of these unique ecosystems in Southern California.