This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Evidently Barney Bettilyn is a newcomer to Utah. I am referring to his letter in the Salt Lake Tribune's Sunday edition of Feb. 23 about getting rid of the California gull as the Utah state bird ("We should replace California seagull as state bird," Forum, Feb. 22).
Mr. Bettilyn, please go to http://www.wikipedia.org/miracle of the gulls, and you will be enlightened as to why Utah has named the California gull, which we natives refer to as "seagulls," as our state bird.
Also, if you go to the Salt Lake Temple grounds, you will see a statue honoring these gulls. It is inside the south entrance as you enter the grounds.
Luana Chapman
Holladay