California gulls on a rooftop on Antelope Island, Utah in 2003; photo by Shengzhi Li from Wikpedia (use permitted with attribution / share alike).
Official State Bird of Utah
Utah designated the California gull (Larus californicus) as official state bird in 1955. All State Birds
The Sea Gull Monument in Salt Lake City honors the gull, who saved the people of Utah by consuming the Rocky Mountain crickets which were destroying all the crops in 1848. Quote from monument:
"The Mormon pioneers planted crops in the spring of 1848, after suffering great hunger during their first winter in the Salt Lake Valley. As the crops ripened, hordes of devouring crickets descended upon them from the foothills east of the valley. The Saints fought them with clubs, fire, and water. As they despaired of saving the next winter's food, their prayers for deliverance from almost sure starvation were answered when thousands of sea gulls came to feed on the crickets. The Sea Gull Monument commemorates this modern-day miracle. The sea gull is now the Utah State bird."
California Gull Facts
California gulls are gymnasts of the sky - they perform amazing aeronautic maneuvers and sometimes appear motionless in midair by positioning themselves to catch wind currents with graceful precision. These gentle birds are considered very beneficial by agriculturalists.
