Ulterior Motive!

   A few days ago, I jokingly made a post on social media about a seagull that decided to "friend" me.  For some reason, the pun flew by most folks and all remarked about how nice the gull appeared.  Yep, I was, indeed, poking fun at the sudden rash of "friend requests" I had received on the site.  Most of those were not valid requests and were followed by the usual "I did not make a new account!  Do NOT accept a friend request from me!"  The bird, however, did validate its requested friendship by visiting me again today.  We had a grand time sitting in the warm sunshine while discussing the fishing techniques of each other.  Then, I threw the net, caught a few menhaden and the bird feasted.  (No wonder this bird wants to be friends!  I have been hoodwinked into catching its breakfast!)

  This is a immature laughing gull and they are known as the "beggars of the bird world".  These birds would just as rather beg, borrow or steal lunch than catch it.  They only "work" if absolutely necessary.  They are pretty much jerks that will show up to dine at any banquet even if they were not invited.  Other birds have to catch their breakfast then be quick and agile enough to evade the sneaky gulls.  

  So..you may rightly ask why I catch food for the gull.  I do simply to allow the terns to eat in peace.  If the gull is getting its fill of menhaden on the pier, it is most likely not going to expend energy chasing down a tern to steal its food.  (Did I mention that I really like the terns?)  I shall continue to feed my "friend" (even if I use the term in jest) and enjoy watching the terns dive for their own meals.

Looky! I Am A Duck!

  Early in the morning just about sun up, the critters of the Bayou all seem to get along fine.  The heat of the day has not yet caused tempers to flare nor greediness to head.  All is well in the critter world.  Sometimes, however, I do think that some of the youngsters get a bit confused about who they really are.  Take this morning, for example.  A  juvenile laughing gull came swimming by the pier.  Yep.  While gulls are more often seen flying above our heads or perched on the pier posts, this little guy decided to swim.  He paddled happily about the pier as if it was perfectly normal action.  Perhaps, he had been watching the ducks and geese and figured that they were getting handouts so he would give it a go.  "Maybe if I act like a duck, I will get a tasty treat!"

  

  The laughing gulls normally nest in large numbers out on the islands or front beach.  It would be rare for one to nest here on the Bayou as there are too many predators that would make short work of the eggs or chicks.  When nesting in colonies of hundreds of birds, there is a community effort to protect the nests.  This youngster has been on the Bayou a few days so he is well on his way of being independent.  He has made his way to our Bayou and will most likely spend a good bit of time here.  The food is plentiful and, if he behaves himself and acts so adorably cute, handouts will be proffered on a daily basis.

  The young gull swam for most of the morning before he flew to a nearby pier post.  There, he perched and preened as most birds do.  He came back to the pier as Mark cleaned our catch of fish.  The bird received plenty of scraps to fill his belly this morning!  He will be back.

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!