Chillin' with the Seagulls: A GIS Analysis for Best Placement of Gull Shading Structures

Dougherty, Lauren Elizabeth

Chillin' with the Seagulls: A GIS Analysis for Best Placement of Gull Shading Structures

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10456/59234

Author(s)

Dougherty, Lauren Elizabeth

Date Issued

April 1, 2025

Abstract

As urban development and human recreation on beaches increase, many shorebird species, such as gulls, are relocating to alternative nesting sites like rooftops. These rooftops mimic aspects of their natural habitat, but during peak summer months (May to August), extreme heat events pose a significant risk to flightless young gulls, leading to high injury and mortality rates. To mitigate this, the use of rooftop shading structures has been proposed. In collaboration with Tamarack Wildlife Center, this study aims to identify optimal locations for installing shading structures on rooftops within a subsection of Erie, PA. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), this project analyzed multiple factors including solar radiation, proximity to past gull injury reports, proximity to impervious surfaces, roof slope, and roof area. Each criterion was ranked on a scale from 1 to 5 and combined to generate a cumulative suitability score for each building. The final output was a map classifying buildings from least (1) to most (5) suitable for shade installation. Five buildings received top suitability scores; all were industrial structures located along a major roadway in the study region. Upon closer inspection, only the highest-ranked building showed an existing gull colony, suggesting the model was effective, though the initial selection of the study region may need refinement. This research offers a framework for future studies to find most suitable placement for shading structures

Major

Environmental Science and Sustainability

First Reader(s)

Shaffer, Chris