Goodbye Daddy Gull
A local true story from a Devon resident (2016) – Anne Scott – Teignmouth
A few weeks ago, we lost a feathered friend. To some, indeed to many, it will seem unfathomable how we became friends with a Herring Gull as they are either liked or vehemently loathed.
It started eight years ago when a fine gull appeared on the flat roof outside our home office window. We didn’t pay very much attention at first but the gull soon brought a mate onto the roof and much chattering and head bobbing took place between them. It soon became clear to us that they were in a mating ritual and looking to nest.
It wasn’t long before a loosely built nest was constructed. Not the most technical and certainly not the prettiest of nests but even so, much to-ing and fro-ing took place collecting twigs and moss and bits and pieces which they placed in a safe corner of the flat roof against the wall. It was a straggly nest but roomy and comfortable. Eventually the female took to the nest and there she stayed, dutifully watched over and cared for by Mr Gull. He sat alongside her on the flat roof for days and they chattered away together and dozed quietly together in the sun or rain. Any dangerous imposters such as crows and magpies were seen off by Mr Gull who was fiercely protective of his nesting partner.
When the eggs hatched and the three fluffy grey spotted chicks emerged, we spent time watching their progress with fascination. They looked like tiny ostrich, little round balls of fluff on long legs. We observed the different noises made by the parent Gulls and over the years we came to understand what some of the various noises and calls meant. We came to learn how extremely protective the parent Gulls are and indeed what brilliant parents. The gull community have a distress call which means ‘all hands on deck’. If parent Gulls send out their distress call it is quickly answered by many other local gulls that fly over to help fight off predators such as hawks, crows or magpies. As soon as the danger is cleared, all gulls return to their own roof and all is once again calm – until the next time.
As the babies grow and start to learn, the parents bring back learning toys for them to play with such as a variety of seashells which they can toss around on the flat roof. This was very interesting because these empty shells were certainly intended as toys and not food.
We then watched with great trepidation as the babies got ready to fledge and take their maiden flight. We have watched with anxiety. Will they crash land? Will they make it to the next roof? It is a mixed experience but all usually ends up well. Any crash landings are dealt with efficiently by the parents. The babies although fledged and quite big, still like to be fed by the parents although they can quite well feed themselves. They bob up and down and whistle, calling for food and attention.
Over the years we have watched the same male Gull return year after year to our flat roof. We know it is him because he has a distinguishing mark, a missing web to his right foot. He had grown to know that we are friends and try to help out with a constant supply of fresh drinking water in a deep, wide container which we know is greatly appreciated. His trust was evident in that he stopped threatening us with alarm calls. What amazed us, in this, which was sadly to be his final year, is that when his partner became distressed by our presence, he stopped her distress by gently chattering to her and she calmed down. It was so very obvious that he had communicated to her that we were friends and she need not be alarmed.
This year, he had arrived as usual with his partner. He showed her the usual nesting site and she approved. They built a nest in the same spot as always. The same ritual was carried out and we commented on what a fine, experienced, caring partner and father Mr Gull was. The three babies were born and all was well until nearly two weeks later when we noticed one morning that there was no Mr Gull. He had gone off on his early flight to find food but did not reappear. His partner looked and called for him but he didn’t arrive. This had never happened before during all the years we had known him. We instinctively knew that something had happened to him. It soon became clear that he had somehow been killed and could not return. His partner eventually knew this and stopped calling and looking for him. We suppose that she could no longer hear his calls in the distance as she always did. We don’t know whether he was run over, killed on the beach by a dog or maybe a person with an air rifle. Perhaps he was caught in discarded fishing line and couldn’t free himself. We’ll never know. What we do know is that Mr Gull would have returned to his partner and babies if he possibly could. He was such a loyal and excellent mate.
We can only hope that a member of the anti-gull brigade didn’t intentionally take this wonderful birds life. We wish that someone could have helped him in his plight whatever that might have been. If he tried to steal your sticky bun or your chips, he was only trying to feed his babies. It is hardly surprising when nature’s food cupboard has been fished out. Hardly surprising when the public are told not to feed the Gulls or drop any morsel of food accidentally (which the Gulls would be delighted to immediately clean up).
We will miss Mr Gull very much indeed. His partner was left trying her best to protect her three tiny fluffy chicks as well as to somehow feed them and herself too. It was impossible for her as crows were on the lookout for defenceless chicks. Well, we stepped in and helped her. Mr Gull gave us much pleasure over the years and we were not about to let his three final chicks die. We went to the supermarket and bought tins and tins of herrings, pilchards, shrimp, crab etc., we mixed this with bread and any other food scraps we had each day. Yes, it cost us to keep this up until the chicks were big enough but it was well worth it.
And so, we are pleased to report to all those who care about birds and wildlife that all three chicks survived and successfully fledged.
And so we ask, don’t just be anti-gull because others are. Yes, they are noisy but it is the sound of the seaside. They have a right to be here.
Goodbye Mr Gull. You were a very fine bird indeed and the very best of parents. You did your duty year after year and protected your partner and babies in a way that some human parents would do well to emulate.
