nearing sunset

the california gull, larus californicus, was selected as the state bird of utah by an act of the legislature in 1955 probably in commemoration of the fact that these gulls saved the people of the state by eating up the rocky mountain crickets which were destroying the crops in 1848. all day long they gorged themselves, and when full, disgorged and feasted again. after devouring the crickets, the gulls returned "to the lake islands whence they came."
long beach, ca