Date: 2/25/25 3:33 pm From: Michael McBrien <mcbrienmr...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] eBirding Guidance for the yellow-legged Larus at Old Field Pt, Suffolk Co.
As many readers on this forum may be aware, a yellow-legged Larus gull closely resembling the northern population of European Herring Gull, and affectionately known by locals as Crabby, is currently present (and has been returning for several winters) to Old Field Point, Suffolk County.
The Suffolk eBird team (as well as the NY eBird team at large) has been actively discussing this bird; I'd like to share some guidance on best practices of how to eBird this unique gull right now.
We are encouraging observers to report this individual as "Larus sp." in eBird, in lieu of reporting it as a European Herring Gull as a placeholder on your list. We would emphasize that it would be prudent not to eBird it as a European Herring Gull assuming it is only a matter of time before it will be accepted, but rather log it in this manner and only change the entry to EHGU later if a final determination is made. We would like to ensure that all of the media is valuably preserved in the eBird database now -- while this bird is still being reviewed -- as well as in the future, and this will ensure that happens. If you decide not to take this route at the moment, please rest assured that this entry will remain on your personal lists.
The New York State Avian Records Committee (NYSARC) has received multiple submissions of this individual so far, and will be deliberating on the record in the coming weeks in our upcoming voting round. If additional guidance needs to be circulated once this record is voted on, the Suffolk review team will be in contact with any additional information.
There is a growing photoset of media of this individual online; however, if you obtain good documentation or have additional thoughts on the ID that have not already been published, I would encourage you to submit a report to NYSARC! Please see our downloadable form available at: https://nybirds.org/NYSARC/nysarcform2024.pdf
Lastly, I would strongly encourage birders to visit Old Field Point to see this interesting bird. I'd encourage everyone to please continue to eBird this bird and attach any photos that you obtain. Whether you enjoy sifting through the cryptic ID points of rare gulls or not, it is quite a magnificent gull and a very unique bird to study.
Best, Mike McBrien <mcbrienmr...>
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