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Even now, declining water levels during the current drought are exposing more alkaline lake bed and threatening to again uncover a land bridge connecting the island rookery for one of the world’s three largest California gull colonies.

But there’s a reason the California gull holds a special place in the hearts of Utah residents.

And yes, the scientific name for its official state bird is Larus californicus, or California gull, which means Utah’s state bird is actually named for another state.

According to accounts, the California gull once rescued crops in Utah that were being eaten by hordes of crickets, back in 1848.

Official state bird: California gull At first I was mad: “You named your official state bird after a bird named for a different state?”