Learn Secrets of Gull ID
3RBC Meeting — Wednesday, November 20, 2002

Gulls can be among the most difficult birds to identify because so many species are confusingly similar. Ed Kwater, a world-class expert in gull identification and a former southwestern Pennsylvanian, will help to improve our ID skills in a slide show at the next membership meeting on Wednesday, November 20.

The location again will be Botany Hall next to Phipps Conservatory in Schenley Park, Oakland, where the September meeting was held. Doors will open at 6:45 for socializing in the Hall's lobby, and the meeting will begin at 7:30. Treats will be provided by anyone who cares to bring them. Food and drink are permitted in the lobby, but not in the auditorium. For directions to the Conservatory, call 412-622-6914, then press 1 or, on the web, go to http://www.phipps.conservatory.org and click on directions.

Ed, who lives in Brandon, Florida, is a staff leader for the British birding tour company Birdquest. He has birded since age 12 when he lived in Lancashire, England. He graduated from Aberdeen University with a degree in zoology, then earned a masters degree in environmental pollution control from Leeds University. He has lived in the U.S. since 1986 and was a biologist for a major corporation before discovering tour leading in 1998.

Ed has birded extensively in Europe and North America as well as in Mexico, Belize, Trinidad & Togago, the Dominican Republic and Colombia, and has led more than 30 birding tours to most of those areas.

In our own region, he was active in the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania for 14 years and served on the Pennsylvania Ornithological Records Committee for nine years.






Can you identify the gull (and age if possible) in the photos on this page? Send email to the Feedback mailbox with your answer. The answer will be revealed at the November 20th meeting. Hint.... pictures taken in Southwestern Pennsylvania. (Photos by J.Pahountis-Opacic)