BIRDS OF SHORE AND SEA 63 



of Bird Island, which is by no means the exclusive property of the brown 

 pelicans. 



A marked change in the behavior of the adults in the colonies is noted as 

 the season progresses. At an early date, before the "nest-situations" are 

 well defined, the birds are unstable and easily frightened from the rock. 

 Later they become fixed in their positions and are not readily disturbed 

 from them. 



By March the birds begin to gather green land plants and sea plants for 

 their nests. The sea plants are secured generally from the coves, where they 

 dive to the bottom for about 35 seconds or so, and come up with the nesting 

 material in their bills. They also get nest material by thieving from each 

 other. 



By late May the birds can be seen on their nests, and by the end of June 

 the young are hatched and only a few broken nests remain. In July great 

 flocks of Brandt cormorants have been seen flying northward, past Point 

 Lobos and over Carmel Bay. 



Brandt cormorants can be seen at nearly all times at the Reserve, either 

 on the islands, in flight close above the water, or diving for food. 



Pelagic cormorants are present in much smaller numbers. They are also 

 smaller in size, with thinner necks and heads, slenderer builds. These 

 pelagic cormorants have more rapid wing-beats in flight than the Brandt 

 cormorants. The population is about equal to the much more conspicuous 

 brown pelican, and scarcely more than one-third as great (probably much 

 less) as that of the Brandt cormorant. This. bird is less strictly localized, 

 even on so small a stretch of coast, than the two relatives just mentioned. 

 Roosting and nesting places are scattered all along the shore of the Point. 

 Groups do not generally reach more than 100 individuals. When the nest- 

 ing season arrives, pelagic cormorants evidently break up into smaller 

 groups than on their roosts. 



One or more pelagic cormorants feeding or in flight usually can be seen 

 by watching for a few minutes at almost any place along the shore. A 

 favorite feeding spot for certain individuals is Carmel Cove, where they 

 catch fish and occasionally bring up a crab from the depths. 



Western Gull 



Among the several kinds of gulls, only this one is a permanent resident 

 at Point Lobos. Its large numbers and aggressive nature make it important 

 here in the animal community along the shore. It is seen in all parts of 

 the area — in the water and on the islands and rocks close to shore, on the 

 ground close to shore, or in flight anywhere, very often over the woods. 



The Western gull searches over a wide variety of forage ground. One 

 favorite source of food is the refuse left at tables by picnickers and along 

 the shore by fishermen. Another type of forage niche of a more nearly 

 natural sort, and rather peculiar to gulls, may be noticed often during low 

 tide. Along the sea cliffs where the rock surfaces rise vertically out of deep 

 water, single, scattered Western gulls commonly feed over the rocks un- 

 covered at low tide, as well as at certain favorable spots on the ocean away 

 from the shore. 



The breeding season is a long one. By August most of the young gulls 

 are in dark plumage and able to fly, although they still beg for food from 

 the adults. As late as December young gulls have alighted beside adult 

 birds, have opened their bills near the heads of the older gulls and have 



