March 20, 2014 (Thursday )
Whenever we have leftover bread, Dwight takes it in hand, walks a few steps down the driveway to the asphalt-paved street that runs by the side of the house, and makes it available to the seagulls. Now, mind you, there is not a gull in sight in any direction, but as soon as he throws a slice of bread onto the pavement, one appears. Then another, afterwards another, one more, and then lots more. As he continues to feed the birds, their squawking can be heard getting louder as somehow more and more of them find out about the bread feast, and show up for their share.
One Thanksgiving I saw the seagulls do even more. After carving the turkey, I took the carcass outside and laid it on the ground next to the woods behind the house. I expected that sooner or later, a possum, coyote, feral cat, or some other fully grown animal would stop by for a free meal, and what was left of the turkey bones would be shared by several critters. Before I could get back into the house, however, the gulls appeared. As with the bread, one at first, then several, then many. I watched in disbelief as in a matter of minutes they dissected the remains of that turkey and flew away leaving nothing where it had been. Amazing.
Gulls nest in large, noisy colonies. Some species live as long as 49 years. They usually don’t venture very far from the coast. They will eat just about anything, I think, living or not. Their cries fill the air when you are at the beach, and along with the sea breeze and occasional mullet or skipjack jumping out there in water, help to set the scene for a very enjoyable time just “getting away from it all.” Psalm 46 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” The beach is a good place to do that. It’s where you watch the birds and they watch you.
Google for the birds of Rockport, Texas. See what you get by clicking here.