The past number of years I have noticed a sharp decline in the Island gulls. Where have all the gulls gone, long time passing?

When I was a child an armada of gulls would follow the Islander to and from Woods Hole to the Island.

You would stick out your hand over the railing with a bit of bagel and down would swoop one of the zillion gulls to grab it out of your hand. It was a thrill. You would walk around Edgartown, the beaches, Gay Head (that was the name we all grew up with) and the sounds and the beauty of the gulls floating within the changing winds. They were like your buddies letting you know they belonged, as much entitled to be part of the landscape as you were.

Where have they all gone? You will see a lonely one or two fly by here and there — maybe even a group here or there. None follow the ferries anymore, rarely see many at the beach. I live near town and never see any flying overhead.

I had heard that years ago there was a kill of the gull eggs — is that still going on? Anyone ever notice this? Anyone a bit concerned that somehow the gulls are a diminishing part of our landscape? We should all be concerned when we try to control the environment, as now we are left wondering.

Elizabeth Bostrom
Edgartown