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Post by denisknopp on Nov 9, 2014 19:10:20 GMT -8
Any one know where the gulls in the Sumas Prairie roost for the night. Most of the ones from Chilliwack roost on Cultus Lake and if you are there at sun up there are thousands. There may be a chants to see them at there roost. Denis
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2014 20:21:21 GMT -8
Good question, Denis -- makes a lot of sense. I have some thoughts and guesses, but nothing definite.
I know that a few years ago if you went to the river bank at the east end of Page Road in Matsqui Prairie late in the day, it was common to see tons of gulls streaming to the large sand bar in the middle of the river upstream from Hatzic. Presumably they were roosting there overnight (though I never checked in the morning to confirm), and given the distance involved, it seems reasonable that gulls that foraged in Sumas Prairie might also travel there for roosting, It's my impression in recent years that that doesn't seem to be happening, and I don't think we get the large numbers of gulls (or geese) foraging in the fields of Matsqui Prairie like we used to. But I don't get out birding much any more, and maybe others who are more familiar with the current scene can give a more accurate picture.
A few years back the Ivory, Slaty-backed and Franklin Gulls were all in a huge flock of gulls foraging in a field along Page Road freshly spread with manure -- As far as I know, farmers are no longer allowed to spread manure on fields in Abbotsford during the rainy months, which might be the reason we don't get such large numbers of gulls on our CBC in that area any more. Have they all just moved to rural Chilliwack?
I can only speculate, but perhaps other possible roost sites for gulls that hang around Sumas Prairie might be Judson Lake, Laxton Lake, Goose Lake (across the Sumas River from McDonald Park on No. 3 Rd) or even Cultus Lake. I also wonder if some gulls might roost overnight on the roof of the BFI transfer station on Industrial Way, off Riverside Rd near Vye Rd.
Stan Olson Abbotsford
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Post by Dave on Nov 9, 2014 22:10:10 GMT -8
Hi Birders, I also do not know where the gulls roost, but do know that while boating on Cultus Lake in the early morning there were lots of white feathers floating around evidence that at least some gulls roost there in good numbers. As far as the manure spreading, farmers no longer spread manure after the ground is frozen. This is true for the entire valley. Of course it is challenging for them to empty their farm manure pits if it has been a rainy October (like this year, for instance!) as they can not get on the fields after harvest. So no matter where you are in the valley, there will almost no manure spread until March. It probably does impact gull numbers as this has been a fairly recent change for the farmers. Back in the Ivory Gull year manure was spread anytime throughout the year. When I refound the Lesser Black-backed Gull on Saturday it was very distant but I managed a far shot that compares it with a Glaucous-winged Gull. No comparison to the sharp images already posted by Becke and Gord though! It was great meeting birders Paul and Dave out there as well. Paul's sharp eyes followed the Lesser Black-backed Gull as it took off and I managed a few distant shots of it flying and some proof it was in the Fraser Valley with a Mount Cheam backdrop! Rare birds have a way of bring birders together and it was great meeting a few new birders and seeing some faces that I haven't seen for a while. Now for a Little Gull...... Dave
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Post by Gord on Nov 12, 2014 13:02:23 GMT -8
Birder, too bad you didnt find it. With the cold the gulls tend to move out with the majority that remain utilizing local garbage dumps etc. When things warm up the gull will return. Let's hope the black-backed will return with them! As for roosts, Dave you're right. A big bunch roost on Cultus Lake. Big flocks can be seen heading there from Chilliwack and Sumas Prairie. Flocks also roost out on the Fraser River bars around Matsqui Flats.
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