Local Life, Opinion

Nature Call Focus: Gull’s Eye View

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Jonathan, is that you? Getting swooped by a seagull can be a bit Alfred Hitchcockish. You just never know that that bird’s eye view is capturing and processing in the moment. Or who the bird is that one — that Jonathan Livingston Seagull — trying to be a non-conformist.

And when that gull, Jonathan Livingston or not, zooms in on that burger you’ve been trying to savor, time’s up for the downing. Things can get a bit freaky competitive in a glutinous kind of way. But, when the gull just parks itself, stares you down and seems more in for a chat, you have to wonder.

So you chat back and snap some pics … and talk right back. I mean, it could be a Jonathan after all. The 1970 book derived from a series of 60s magazine stories by Richard Bach was a mega hit, selling millions of copies, and was made into a movie. It was an era of finding oneself. But when isn’t it?

So thinking of that Jonathan while chatting with this big talker makes one delve into the history of seagulls.

The realization: Gulls get a bad rap, really. They have made away with my cherished chips on a first good beach day with a best buddy. The sight of two childhood friends over 50 chasing a bag of chips, gulls a swooping and squawking, was quite the comedy.

They do like to eat — maybe more than the chip hoarders among us. They’re not afraid to grab your last morsel, either. They’re not counting. They like to argue among themselves, too. But, they’re not much different than gossipy humans.

And there’s a status and seniority hierarchy going on among them. Predators usually get to those less protected in the lower echelon of gull society.

But they can sense poisoned food and, once tainted and rid of it, won’t go near that species again. They also drink salt water and can pump out the salt via a bill gland. They’re one of the few species that can do that.

All of that is pretty neat. But, scientific intrigue aside, ya gotta wonder if there was something to that Jonathan story. And when one cops a squat, gives a stare and starts squawking, you may as well take pause and ponder it. Why not?

In the book, Jonathan is taken under the wing of a wise gull, Chiang — a transcending time traveler of sorts. Chiang tells him that in going wherever you want to go in the universe, the best route taken is to “begin by knowing that you have already arrived.”

You have. Take a close look (click on one to enlarge and scroll) at our glimpse into the world of a Jonathan — or maybe just a talkative, social seagull. Maybe.

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