This is a message from Jan on John's email which we both use. Long ago, before the age of digital cameras and multiple observers with cars that travel long distances, there was a gull that I observed on January 4, 1968 at Knife River that I suspected then, and still do, was a Slaty-backed Gull. I still have the detailed field notes that I took and pbulished in "The Loon" in 1969 (v. 41, p. 55-56). The size similar to male Herring Gull, slate grey mantle, bright pink legs and feet, light yellow riris, and very heavy mottling about the head, nape and upper breast are a better fit for an adult of this speciess than any other.
It was in the slip that the commercial fishermen used (before the marian was excavated) and I was parked adjacent to the slip. I could not find it again before our daughter Sarah was born on the 12th of January. No one else saw it at close hand although a dark-backed gull was seen later in the month. It was minus 25 degrees that day in 1968. Quite a contrast with just being able to walk to the patio of the East Bay Hotel in July and see the adult Slate-backed Gull perched on the wall at the edge of the lawn. I hope all those who trekked to Grand Marais also joined Harbor Friends (web: www.harborfriends.org and email: [email protected]). Molly and Ken Hoffman are mainstays of the group and their goal is to keep the harbor as natural as possible for bird habitat, etc. in face of a big marina proposal. Jan Green
