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Coastal Bird Life Expedition at the Environmental
Studies Center and on Gilliard Island Summer
2004, June 11th Mobile County Public School
System Mobile County Middle Training
School Librarian Clarence S. Hamilton.
Jr. cshamilton_at_mcpss.com
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A Journal Summary Notes and Illustrations
Morning - Introduction Orientation with Roger
Clay , Biologist (right) with the Fish and Game
Division of State of Alabama

• Bay boat trip and
• notes for the island
• - Species diversity
• - Population density
• - Plant Life
• - Mortality
• - Predation
• Man-made and natural factors impacting Gaillard
  Island
• role as a rookery for aquatic bird life

Map of boat docks and launch into Bay to Gaillard
Island Rookery (right)
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• Afternoon
• Environmental Studies Center
• Tour
• with Susan Clement (right)
• Wild life Specialist, Biologist and Alabama
  Animal Rehab
• Coordinator with Mobile County Public Schools
• - live avian collections at ESC
• indoor and outdoor collections
• - compete tour of building and grounds
• classroom Teacher Resource Kit
• a live indoor animal habitat
• a fresh water aquarium
• stocked with native
• Alabama fish

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Bird Recovery Program
Bird Released from Recovery
Program at Aviary Center
We got to see the release of an injured Gull as
part of the Program at the Center
Sea trip to Gaillard Island
Boat orientation Our boat was furnished by
Auburn University Marine Educationand Research
Center
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From the boat, coming out to Gaillard from
docks we saw a juvenal Great Blue Herron and
Great Egret in the harbor. Each of us was given
a laminated Coastal Bird Chart we could use
for identification
Our first sight of Gaillard the Herring seagull
run way
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Carefully getting off the boat at a sandy
beach head on the rookery island
Our intrepid Instructor treks through the island
and we listen as we follow to additional
information
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Observations
-Species Diversity Diversity of animal life
focuses mostly on birds at this point in the 25
year history of Gailland. Our teacher team
observed bird life. We saw evidence of small a
mammals, Nurtria by way of dung droppings. This
animal is nocturnal. Our group observed both
flying and nesting Laughing Gull, Herring Gulls,
and Brown pelicans.
-Population Density Currently the bird life of
the island is stable and improving. About a 1000
nesting Laughing Gulls and 900 pelicans. Because
of the nesting habits of the Laughing Gulls the
larger and more aggressive Herring Gull will eat
eggs from the outer perimeters of a nesting pod
(50 to 100 in nesting, about 100 ft. in diameter)
and the aggressive swarming activities of the
Laughing Gulls will keep the predator from
damaging nests inside the pod. Roger suggested
nesting density occurs when one bird finds an
acceptable site the others of the species
simply build and follow the leader there are
not special preferences for gulls for nesting
locations ... other than the damage to ground
nesters from high water.
Pelican builds their nests in the short shrubs
close to the ground
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-Mortality Gulls seem to do about the same in
mortality rate as pelicans. The magic number
of Brown Pelican chicks seems to be 2.
The 3rd chick does not function as well because
of feeding and other care taking habits of these
birds have.
The 3rd chick will fall out of the nest and not
get back in, or not get the food vomit it needs,
or just plain does not grow in size as the other
two chicks.
This one did not even hatch
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As a contrast, adult Laughing Gulls get agitated
and fly round the nesting pods if approached
The chicks of the gulls simply lie still to
blend in
Pelican adults seen to care very little if
humans approach
Our line of human visitors approached the Brown
Pelican nesting areas. They, for the most part
stayed on the low tree shrubs or on the ground
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Juvenile chicks scream, volted their heads
back and forth, jump up and down, and vomit to
keep humans from coming to close. It is a show
to remember. They still do not run away.
Adult Pelicans feed their young a mush
regurgitation of the Menhaden fish. This fish is
also used in manufacturing catfood, oils, and
makeup.
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- Plant Life Low scrubs and grasses covered the
island. We were able to identify specifically,
the bladderpod or bagpod native plant possibly
introduced from the West Indies. It blooms in
the early summer. This low bush was in the
podding stages of its season.
There are not any trees at this time.
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-Predation Roger noted, with a smile, In the 5
yrs. as caretaker and curator of Gaillard Island,
I have seen one snake and no other larger or
smaller mammals than the Nurtria. This animal
was first introduced to the new world from South
America for it pelts.
Nurtria droppings
Walking the rim of the sea wall that protects
Aviary
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Summary
Manmade and natural factors Other factors
impacting Gailland Islands role as a rookery for
aquatic bird life are - Eventually the
dredging of the channel will fill the inner pit
area of island so that water ponds and the low
flat lands will no longer exist.
- This sea wall change might allow a adjustment
both the bird life and predators, thus facility
a paradigm shift in the quality of nesting
areas. - Natural factors impacting Gailland
will always be hurricanes and the introduction of
more aggressive birds or ground predators. -
Water pollution in the future might impact the
animal and plant life.
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• Curriculum Connections
• Secondary Correlation
• The information and activities presented in this
  workshop can be used to teach the following
  objectives from The Alabama Course of Study and
  Objectives of the
• Graduation Exam
• Alabama High School Graduation Exam
• (Click here)
• Alabama Course of Study
• (Click here)
• Additional Related Support
• Environmental Studies Center
• (Click link below) http//www.mcpss.com/websites/M
  CPSS/MCPSS//Default.asp?LDivisionID'5'Departme
  ntID'20
• State of Alabama Wild Life Department
• (Click link) http//www.dcnr.state.al.us/

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• Thanks
• Mobile County Public School System,
• teachers and staff
• Environmental Studies Center,
• Lloyd Scott, Director
• State of Alabama Wild Life Service
• Roger Clay , Biologist,
• Fish and Game Division of State of
• Alabama
• South Alabama In-service and Research Center,
  Mobile, Al.

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