LAKE COUNTY–A flock of gulls feast on the small threadfin shad fish that are in abundance at Rodman Slough bridge Friday morning.
Most species seen here during the winter include Bonaparte”s Gulls, Herring Gulls, California Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls, according to Redbud Audubon Society bird specialist Leona Butts.
“The birds follow the food,” Butts said.
According to Record-Bee outdoors columnist Terry Knight, the threadfin shad population is likely approaching the billions after a die-off last summer left their numbers at almost zero.
Knight said the little fish go through “peaks and valleys” as part of their reporduction cycle, and that birds follow where the schools, called “balls,” migrate.
“The schools are on the move,” Knight said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
