Kelp Gull - Countable?

Edward Jendrek (aj97@bellatlantic.net)
Thu, 18 Feb 1999 12:49:01 +0000 

I would like to raise a few questions about the Kelp Gull currently
being seen in St.Mary's County, MD.  Not specifically about ID, but
rather, origin and countability.
    The KGs discovered on the Gulf Coast in 1989 and their subsequent,
somewhat successful attempts at breeding on the Chandeleurs of the coast
of Louisiana bring a few obvious questions to a head.  Namely, where did
this gull come from?  Is it a true vagrant, wandering the Atlantic and
showing up here, presumably due to some strange wheather brougth on by
the current El Nino/La Nina events?  Or is it a bird from much closer to
home, the Chandeleurs? Or even the Yucatan (presuming those Mexican
birds are still around)?
    If it is a true vagrant, then "Yee Haw!!!" and I'll be the first to
tick it on my life-list.  But what if it is an hybrid bird, a result of
many crosses and back-crosses there down on the Chandeleurs.  If the
bird originated in the Gulf of Mexico, then it seems unlikely to me that
this bird is a pure Kelp Gull.  Now, I am no expert, and crossing an ID
made by Michael O'brien may be like spitting at God (at least to me, as
I've heard the best birders I know consider out loud Mr. O'brien's
closeness to Sainthood), but maybe we as a whole are not considering all
possibilities?  Is this bird a hybrid? Specifically, is it an F2 or F3
Kelp Gull/Herring Gull hybrid with more Kelpie phenotype than HeGu
phenotype?  And, not to be dense, but what about LBBG/GBBG hybrid?
    And what's more, and I know this ground has been tread before, Kelp
Gulls are a coldwater, southern hemisphere bird.  I have read that they
may be an invasive species, as they may have invaded Australia in the
late 20th century. And I know that the Humboldt Current comes a good
ways up into the Atlantic.   However, ship-assisted birds are still a
possibility and one that should not be shrugged off.
    Lastly, concerning this bird's countability.  I know the Texas
Records Committee accepted the Galveston bird, but as far as I'm aware,
the ABA Checklist Committee has not said anything on this since 1997.
    Again, I am not an expert!!! Reread this statement as many times as
you need to if I have said anything offensive, ignorant, or just plain
stupid.  However, I thought that these points should be addressed.

Brian Monk
Bel Air MD