Ron Shields photographed this tagged Ring-billed Gull  at the Kearny Marsh on February 5, and asked us recently what the tag meant.
   We gave him the following information, and here's what he learned.

   We suggested Ron follow the advice provided on the Jersey Birds e-mail list:
   "Dan Clark requests that any wing-tagged gull sightings be reported to him at Dan.Clark@state.ma.us (508-792-7423 x215).
   More information on the wing-tagged gull project can be found here:

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/waterSupply/watershed/study/index.htm

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/watersupply/watershed/documents/downstream_21.pdf "

   Ron found out that "this Ring-billed Gull is part of a water supply protection study aimed at evaluating the effects of large numbers of birds over an extended period of time on reservoir water quality. 
   "The tag reflects that the gull is part of the Wachusett Reservoir study and was captured and tagged in Massachusetts in 2008. Pretty cool stuff!!!"