My first research experience was as an undergraduate when I studied the gulls at the local garbage dump. I spent many hours at the dump observing and counting the birds that came to feed there and learned a lot about gulls and their behavior.
The research focused on quantifying and understanding the seasonal patterns of occurrence of birds in the dump and specifically on understanding how the number of gulls visiting the dump fluctuated in response to the prevailing weather conditions. This work was the basis of my undergraduate thesis and resulted in a couple of publications:
Buckley, N. J. 1987. Kleptoparasitism of black-headed gulls Larus ridibundus by common gulls Larus canus at a refuse dump. Bird Study 34: 10-11.
Buckley, N. J. and J. O'Halloran 1986. Mass mortality of gulls in west Cork attributed to botulism. Irish Birds 3: 283-285.
For more information see:
This page last modified: Friday, October 06, 2000
© Neil Buckley 2001.
Questions? Contact Dr. Buckley at neil.buckley@plattsburgh.edu
Dr. Neil Buckley, Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USA. (518) 564-5165.
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