Seagulls in Sunlight
Monterey is filled with creatures who like the sun.
Monterey is absolutely filled with wildlife, but not a lot of sun. Compared to Southern California, Monterey is frequently a foggy, cloudy place. So when there is sun, everyone and everything comes out to enjoy it!
Cormorants gather on the pier
Brown Pelicans fly along the coast
Otters splash and hunt in the waves
Sea Lions bask on the rocks
But there’s one sun loving creature in particular that conveys a certain charm
There are a few, shall we say, distinctive parts of this creature.
The feathers that get absolutely everywhere
Their V shaped silhouette
Black and white wings that make them stand out amongst the sky.
And their tendency to crowd atop buildings, often in large flocks.
Did you figure out the identity of our mysterious creature? Or maybe the title gave it away? I’m talking about Seagulls. They’re everywhere. And I mean EVERYWHERE.
BUT ARE THEY??
Turns out, Seagulls DON’T EXIST.
The term “Seagull” is a colloquial term for a group of seabirds called gulls. Gulls are closely related to terns, and there are over 50 different species of gulls, 28 of which are found in North America. The Gull species showcased in this piece is the Western Gull. The Western Gull is easily distinguished from the similar looking California gull because the Western Gull has bright pink legs. Western Gulls are positively brimming with attitude and pizazz, and you can find them enjoying all sorts of activities around Monterey.
Enjoying a barnacle encrusted tire swing at the Old Fisherman's Wharf.
Casually strolling along Alvarado street, likely in a hurry to get to Revival before closing.
Learning about Monterey's rich history and daydreaming about the delicious days of plentiful sardines.
Attending a picnic along the coastal trail with new "friends."
There’s a lot that can be learned from watching Western Gulls around Monterey.
Like most birds, Western Gulls share a fundamental fear of dogs
This fear is purely instinctual, as gulls see dogs as predators. In reality, gulls have few true predators.
Western Gulls are attentive and doting parents, carefully feeding and protecting their chick. Chicks can stay in the nest area for up to 6th months. Typically, gulls co-parent with each one spending an equal amount with their chick. This gull seemed to be parenting alone, and I had to wonder…
If this gull nearby had been its mate.
This gull had a blue identification band around its leg. Gulls are tracked for a variety of reasons, including monitoring their ranges. Most commonly, a leg band provides a form of identification for a gull that has previously been injured and rehabilitated, or is part of an ongoing research effort.
These gulls soared high above, smoothly gliding despite harsh winds. Gulls have specialized elbow joints that allow them to change their wing shape to be best suited to their current purpose, in this case circling so high they became almost black dots against the sky.
After long days full of flying and pestering tourists, many Western Gulls like to stroll the soft sand of Del Monte beach, scavenging for dinner. As scavengers, gulls play a crucial role in the ecosystem as their diet of dead animals and dropped food reduces pollution and transforms waste into nutrients. Their varied diet is also why gulls have spread so far inland. Their foraging skills that are designed for oceans and beaches translate well to finding food around the city.
In their natural environment as the last of the sunlight filters in, they waddle along the shore and run from the crashing waves. At times, they take a moment to rest, their fresh footprints trailing behind them in the sand.
After hours of scavenging, the sun begins to truly set and it is time for them to to head back to their nests. The Western Gulls speed across the water and fly into the horizon, ready to do it all over again tomorrow.
