FIELD NOTES LOCATION: Alcatraz Island, S.F. Bay, Calif WEATHER: Clear, but some high thin haze. Sunny. Wind ~10-15 mph T~70's °F Doug Bell DATE: May 4, 1985 TIME: 11:00 AM - 13:00 Checking status of gull nests with Cynthia Annette. Most nests still without eggs. In nests with eggs - clutches vary from 1-3 eggs. Recording length + width measurements, weights of eggs. Noting food remains around nests - ie: garbage or fish. Gulls exhibit nervous behavior when we intrude on colony sites, "mup-mup-mup" call and "typical" call (long?) heard. Most birds just soared, almost stationary as we proceeded thru colonies. No attacking or dive- bombing defense yet. Killdeer nest found atop rusty pile of rubble on flat yard next to Power Plant. 4 eggs, one chick hatching. Adult hanging around close to nest. Not making noise. Chick peeping heard. TIME 13:20 - 13:50 Observing gulls on I.B. About 35 gulls on I.B., 16 [illegible] pairs, 2 birds appear to be sitting on nests. One other bird was sitting on a nest for ~10 min, but then got up and walked off it. Birds which seem to be paired are sitting or standing within 1 meter of one another. About half the gulls are just laying flat on the roof, some with slightly opened wings - sunning. Wind is strong (15-20 mph?) - buffeting the birds. Of pair closest to this observation blind, the female has a black plastic band on left leg. This same pair did a defense display (?) - both birds walked with stiffened necks and bills angled slightly downward towards another pair. Calling. Pair at far end of I.B. tugging at grass roll, mutually carrying grass to nest. Although male carrying bigger chunks and depositing it at nest. Female carrying sprigs back and forth not depositing it, but holding on to it. One pair involved