Western Gull movement and nutrient deposition on Channel Islands, CA

This data package includes data on the foraging-associated movement and nutrient deposition of large nesting colonies of Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis), a generalist carnivore known to forage on human refuse. The study took place on the Channel Islands of California. Specifically, we equipped gulls with GPS loggers to assess the frequency of urban foraging alongside bird density data to estimate wild and urban-derived guano deposition on the island sites. We also conducted nest counts and vegetation surveys to assess potential nutrient sources, in addition to collecting soil samples at different sites throughout the islands to measure nutrient differences in the soil between the early and late part of the Western Gull nesting season.Â