Re: Colour-dyed Silver Gull

["Ian Temby"<>]

Dear Niven,

When I was studying Silver Gulls in the mid-eighties, I also noticed
occasional gulls with apparent dye markings.  Since I was the only
registered dye-marker at the time, I knew they were not officially marked.
I am fairly sure that some gulls become "marked" through contact with
substances at rubbish tips, which are major food sources for many of our
gulls.

Perhaps this is the origin of your gull's marking.

Cheers

Ian