FIELD NOTES Don Bell Alcatraz Island, S.F. Co., Calif. Date: March 17, 1988 Time: 11:26- Tide: high - rock covered Weather: sunny, fog burned off low mind 11:26- at blind on eastern 46 gulls present on eastern. Major disputes at territories going on - grappling, etc. Rending gull calls from 11:30 to 12:30. There have been some angry fights, both on the eastern & IB. Also much choking between 3 different pairs at one spot - near territory 26/34/27. On IB roof a great deal of interpair choking is occurring. I have seen a pair of birds choke at a choking intruder. Some head tossing occurring, no courtship feeds can yet, but zw. 11:30 to 12:30 3 attempted copulations occurred. One, at pair 30 - which consists possibly of two yellow- silver banded & (remdy are from last year). There may be another & trying to maintain itself at pair 30, as standoffs are occurring. Another attempted copulation took place near pair 7; and a probably successful copulation was made by pair 30 - of which the & is the white/silver bird. 12:48 a new silver/pink & spotted on eastern. His appearance raised a success near pair 31. @ 12:49- 41 gulls on eastern. Pair 1 keeps choking at some spot. Correction - above on banded birds. The pink silver male still seems to be near pair 32. There just might be another light yellow/ silver male & hanging out at the eastern 12:59- a male mallard landed on IB roof. Then flew to eastern slope. Is now resting - head tucked - on the eastern itself. 13:00 rending behaviors - most