Weather Forecaster?

"Seagull, seagull, sit on the sand;

It is a sign of rain, when you are at hand."

  The little ditty above is said to be one from Scotland and supposedly came about from the habit of gulls roosting during times of low pressure.  In weather forecasting, low pressure usually indicates stormy weather, hence, rain.  I am not sure if the verse is always accurate but it is reasonable.  On rainy days, I see more gulls roosting on the pier posts or on the pier itself than flying about the Bay.  

  This afternoon, Mark and I headed to the pier to check his skiff when I noticed several gulls roosting on the posts of my brother's pier. Yep, it was raining.  Not much, just a drizzle but the forecast calls for a rainy evening.  Perhaps the jingle is correct or perhaps birds normally take to the roost like we would seek shelter in our homes.  While there is not much spectacular about a bunch of gulls roosting on pier posts, one of the birds did catch my eye.  Perched on the outside post was a dark gull.  Ahh, a juvenile Laughing Gull had ventured out with the adults. At least one little tyke of a brood had survived.

  Laughing Gulls stay around the Bay and Bayou year round but were nearly eliminated years ago by folks hunting them for their feathers and for eggs.  Now they have made a fantastic comeback following laws made to protect them.  The gulls are so named for their call which does, indeed, sound a good bit like peals of laughter at times.  I find they do this a lot just after stealing my fish bait!  

  The little guy (or gal) today, seemed to be quite healthy.  In a couple of years, it will get its adult plumage of grey and white with a black head.   I guess now I have a new scavenger to feed if it does not make a nuisance of itself by demanding ALL of the handouts!