The Tidal Basin and the Maine Ave. fish market are hosting Ring-billed Gulls in abundance, as well as Herring Gulls and Greater Black-backed Gulls. Gulls tend to increase in these areas as the winter progresses, with a peak in late February and early March, when the gizzard shad stage their annual die-off (remember 2 years ago, when the die-off was late and coincided with the blooming of the cherry blossoms?). If I see anything unusual, this list will be the first to know about it. Jim Jim Felley Smithsonian Institution PS: While I said 'annual', the die off is usually due to ice cover on the Tidal Basin area, at a time when fish are needing more oxygen-- this is a common occurence in areas with ice, and is called "winter-kill."