{"id":59431,"date":"2019-08-11T05:39:06","date_gmt":"2019-08-11T11:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=59431"},"modified":"2025-06-24T07:34:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T12:34:34","slug":"imagine-utah-without-california-gulls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/08\/11\/imagine-utah-without-california-gulls\/","title":{"rendered":"Imagine Utah Without California Gulls"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AdultAdult California Gull chasing brine flies next to the Great Salt Lake – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The state bird of Utah is the California Gull and Utah could lose them without action being taken on the climate crisis we are experiencing. Some people might say “so what?” because of their bias against all gulls or they might say “who cares, they are just birds” because they simply don’t or won’t grasp the concept that what is good for birds is also good for us as human beings.<\/p>\n

Of course there are also the climate deniers who say that climate change is a “Chinese Hoax” and those people would be wrong. Flat. Out. Wrong.<\/p>\n

Science proves otherwise. I stand with science and will not align myself with uneducated buffoons who call it a “Chinese Hoax” when it comes to the future of birds, nature and our planet.<\/p>\n

\"CaliforniaCalifornia Gull flying over an icy pond – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/5000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

From Audubon:<\/p>\n

“Despite being an adaptable scavenger, the California Gull will virtually disappear from Utah as desertification intensifies in the southwest. Instead, the species will make its way towards the coast, looking for fish and landfills to stuff its belly. The only remaining hope Utah has of seeing the gull in the future is likely in winter.”<\/em><\/p>\n

If no action is taken on our climate crisis 98% of California Gull summer range in Utah will be lost and 72% of their winter range here will be gone too.<\/p>\n

Why is it so hard for some people to understand that we need to take care of this planet now. To take action on the climate crisis today?<\/p>\n

Ah, Mia, it is just a bird. No, it isn’t just a bird. Because California Gulls aren’t the only birds at risk of disappearing from the skies, shorelines and waters of Utah. Because the web of life is connected what happens to one species affects them all including human beings.<\/p>\n

Standing up for nature is fighting for our lives. It really is<\/em> as simple as that.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my California Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ah, Mia, it is just a bird. No, it isn’t just a bird. Because California Gulls aren’t the only birds at risk of disappearing from the skies, shorelines and waters of Utah.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":149297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[511,27,520,2152,1022,1254,709,26],"tags":[4004,7543,5991,4333,929,3462,7552,4052,4122,4005,3539,521,6241,5178,11483,4230,1984,8018],"class_list":["post-59431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-avian","category-california-gulls","category-conservation","category-davis-county-utah","category-environment-wildlife-ethics","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-at-risk","tag-brine-flies","tag-california-gull","tag-chasing","tag-climate-change","tag-climate-crisis","tag-flight","tag-flying","tag-great-salt-lake","tag-gull","tag-gulls","tag-icy","tag-lake","tag-lake-shore","tag-larus-californicus","tag-pond","tag-urban"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gulls-chasing-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-2469.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-fsz","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6248,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/10\/03\/california-gull-the-chase-is-on\/","url_meta":{"origin":59431,"position":0},"title":"California Gull – The Chase is On","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"While my mother was visiting Utah she was able to see how California Gulls chase and feed on Brine Flies, it is fascinating feeding behavior. As my mom watched, I photographed.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"California Gull gobbling up Brine Flies at the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-mia-mcpherson-6389.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-mia-mcpherson-6389.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-mia-mcpherson-6389.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-mia-mcpherson-6389.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53086,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/07\/14\/great-salt-lake-brine-flies-important-food-source-for-california-gulls\/","url_meta":{"origin":59431,"position":1},"title":"Great Salt Lake Brine Flies – Important Food Source For California Gulls","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Brine flies that live in the Great Salt Lake are an important food source for California Gulls and watching the gulls feed on the flies is fascinating as they use several techniques to catch them.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult California Gull scooping up brine flies with its bill, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-3828.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-3828.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-3828.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-3828.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3020,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/08\/31\/california-gulls-feeding-on-the-brine-flies-of-the-great-salt-lake\/","url_meta":{"origin":59431,"position":2},"title":"California Gulls feeding on the Brine Flies of the Great Salt Lake","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 31, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"A few days ago I had the opportunity to take images of California Gulls feeding on brine flies along shoreline of the Great Salt Lake next to the causeway to Antelope Island","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"One California Gull actively feeding, the other is passively feeding on brine flies. Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/california-gull-5489-munching-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/california-gull-5489-munching-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/california-gull-5489-munching-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/california-gull-5489-munching-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 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Lake","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday while near the marina on Antelope Island State Park I spotted my first of the year Brine Flies warming up on some of the rocks in the water.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"First of the year Brine Flies, Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-0280.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-0280.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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