Subject: Western Gull nesting colony, Larus occidentalis

Location: Offshore rock, Clatsop County, Oregon

Stock Number: 07-23802 (above) and 07-23768 (below)

Comments: Western Gulls, like many other members of this family, practice colonial nesting. One advantage of this kind of nesting is that the group can cooperate to defend against predators. Also, by having all the eggs hatch at about the same time, losses to predators are less than they would be if the hatchings were staggered in separated nests.