During the week I had lunch beside the river in Dargaville and noticed no seagulls came to beg me to share with them. I hope because they have returned to a time of plenty, unlike during our Level 3 Covid 19 Lockdown when the they were ravenous, clearly missing the people who regularly picnic in this spot.
I wonder what other wildlife suffered from a lack of people in their environment.
I'm linking this to Covid-19 around the globe, the subject for this week here.
Level three, now that is organised. here we have at least three levels a week.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy seeing seagulls but they can be a real pest.
Hi Adrian, Perhaps the whole country will go to the same Level 1 tomorrow. Unless, of course, Pollyanna decides on Level 1.5 like she did when she came up with 2.5 a while ago. The levels sound simple but the rules are still confusing.
DeleteSeagulls and sparrows - I think they both missed the extra food from visitors. I also heard that wild life in some DOC areas suffered because the trappers were unable to get in and check the predator traps.
ReplyDeleteYes, the sparrows are as bad as the seagulls when it comes to scrounging food. Like the predators to our wildlife, they never miss an opportunity.
DeleteThat's why we shouldn't feed wildlife. They forget how to hunt for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Diane. The thing that really fires me up is when people feed feral cats which do so much damage to our birds.
DeleteWe had a neighbour near The Cottage who used to feed the feral cats despite the annoyance and warnings of her neighbours. She was scratched by one and the slight wound necrotised and she nearly lost her arm. She didn't get a lot of sympathy. When the feral cats got out of control most called a farmer who would come and cull them. Hard but necessary. We had a lot of pukeko and other birds.
Deletemigrating birds, such as geese, sometimes stop their migration because they are feed in a park.
ReplyDeleteReally, Denton? That's unforgivable. Thanks for the visit.
DeleteHope they have learnt to be self sufficient.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too, magiceye. But I think it will be like so many other things, we change for the better because we have to, but slip back into our old ways very quickly.
DeleteIf they are fed too often, it's bad for them and us. Gulls, however, can be most persistent.
ReplyDeleteAt Disney World in Florida, some of the outdoor restaurant seating areas had to put up nets to keep gulls from dive bombing diners and eating right off of their plates.
Hi messymimi, Seagulls and sparrows are skilled scroungers. I've never seen seagulls visit restaurants to eat from the plate but sparrows here sure do. At least they aren't as scary as a seagull would be.
DeleteI agree with magiceye. They should be self suficient but people have to stop feeding them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit, Bill. Unfortunately, I think it would take a major campaign to stop people feeding the birds.
DeleteSeagulls are always on the lookout for food. Many animals have done better not having people around.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the4 comment and the happy thought that some animals thrived during Covid. I often smiled when I heard people remarking on how lovely the weather was during the strictest time of our lockdown. I hope those people continue to notice the weather.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful birds, seagulls. I'm sure they found good pickings to substitute potato chips! They're smart! They probably ate more fish to fill up the gaps. :)
ReplyDeleteTake good care, Pauline. :)
Hi Lee, My daughter thought these seagulls were subdued, standing around as if confused by the lack of people.
DeleteFeeding seagulls is a real problem in the UK. Not so much in rural areas where people are far more realistic but in urban areas the black back gulls are fearless and attack people for their fish and chips or sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteHi Graham, I was attacked by a seagull once when out fishing on a boat. It thought the fish belonged to him, in the end I agreed and let him have it. After all, I was in his world but I would not be happy about being attacked while eating. There are stupid people everywhere.
DeleteDargaville seems to have so many seagulls, I remember working in that town in 2010 and having lunch by the gazebo there and birds flocking around.
ReplyDeleteHello, Pauline,
ReplyDeleteI love the gulls and photo. I think the wildlife is better off without people feeding them. Sometimes the food they are fed is not appropriate. Take care, Have a happy day!