A Closer Look at Gull Identification: Amar Ayyash, leading authority on the gulls of North America

Join us for an informative talk on Gull Identification. Amar Ayyash will begin with a brief overview of which gulls are found in our region at various times of the year, and how to approach their identification.

Gull ID is bolstered by learning some basic concepts of molt and plumage, two topics which are often ignored by many. Amar will illustrate how molt and plumage have a one-to-one correspondence, and how knowing this can help us gain a baseline when approaching the various age groups in gulls.

Another focus point will be separating our regularly occurring winter gulls, including their subadult plumages. Finally, mention of rare, but expected vagrants from around the continent will be covered, as well as recent updates in gull taxonomy.

BIO - Amar Ayyash is the leading authority on the gulls of North America. He hosts the website anythinglarus.com, hosts the North American Gulls Facebook group, and has coordinated the Illinois Ornithological Society's Annual Gull Frolic for the last 13 years. Amar is often found speaking at birding events throughout the continent, and much of his free time is dedicated to traveling the world to photograph and study gulls. He is a regular contributor to premier birding magazines and journals and is the author of the newly released book, The Gull Guide.

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