Zip tied gull... any ideas?

[Troy Fields]

I found this gull on the beach today while doing a little training. Any ideas on what the zip ties would be for?

 

[Frank Lopez]

It's a Sicilian message. "Keep your mouth shut or your arms and legs will be broken!"


Frank, (LOL)

 

[Chris Finch]

My buddy is a nefop observer. I know when he gets an incidental take on a comercial boat he documents the hell out of it, takes samples, then tags it, and boots it over. The zip ties might be a code laguage to other observers.

 

[Carl]

Could be part of a carcass drift study. A set number of dead birds are marked & released at sea, then surveys check adjacent shorelines for the number that show up over time.
Gives us an idea of how many dead birds from a spill make it to shore, provided basis for statistical analysis.

 

[Brad Bortner]

I suspect that it is a mix of Chris' and Carl's suggestions.

 

[Scott Farris]

If we're voting I like Frank's guess better ;^)

I was looking for the cement overshoes.

 

[Mike Sheppard]

50 shades of grey gull, gone wrong.?

 

[Kris Winiarski]

I think those are birds that were marked by SEANET observers looking for dead beached birds. The zip ties probably prevent double counting. Lots of ducks and gulls washing up with these harsh conditions. Might be worth contacting SEANET with your observation.