Comments on: Seagull Survey (Part X) http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2008/08/seagull-survey-10/ The cruising log of the good ship Mollymawk Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:52:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Darlynne http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2008/08/seagull-survey-10/comment-page-1/#comment-505 Darlynne Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:17:00 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=411#comment-505 Hi, Our young gulls are flying and seem to be really enjoying this new freedom...even if they are somewhat sloppy at it! One flew on their 49th day, but we believe that it was accidentally blown off of the roof. Fortunately it landed on a roof one story lower and about 80 feet away. It stayed there for two days, trying to fly, and during that time one of the adults did feed it and spent some time on that roof. On the 51st day it flew to another roof and as well another of the chicks flew from the nesting roof over to join it. The third chick, having been hatched a day later flew the following day. Its very interesting that they flew on their 51st day the same as the ones you mentioned! They are now flying around this area, landing on the other roofs near by, and spending time down on the sand at low tide. One of the chicks now has a sore foot or leg and has difficulty walking; we are concerned about it and hope that it is something that will heal. He is also the least coordinated of the three and has always had difficulty making good landings. I have spend a fair amount of time watching them and recently have also watched them at low tide and find it fascinating watching the adults try to teach them to find food etc. There must have been a whole flock of chicks hatched about the same time as we are amazed at the amount of young we see both flying and feeding near the tidal pools. We feel very fortunate to have had the experience of seeing this family of gulls from the building of the nest; watching the newly hatched wee little balls of fluff bounce up and down and flap their tiny little wings; and now these sort of gangly adolescents, flopping around as they learn to fly, always begging for food; and the amazing adults with their infinite patience having the major task of training them to fend for themselves. Its awesome! Thank you for all the information on your web site and for your emails, it really helped us to have this communication!!! Best Wishes! Darlynne Hi,
Our young gulls are flying and seem to be really enjoying this new freedom…even if they are somewhat sloppy at it! One flew on their 49th day, but we believe that it was accidentally blown off of the roof. Fortunately it landed on a roof one story lower and about 80 feet away. It stayed there for two days, trying to fly, and during that time one of the adults did feed it and spent some time on that roof. On the 51st day it flew to another roof and as well another of the chicks flew from the nesting roof over to join it. The third chick, having been hatched a day later flew the following day. Its very interesting that they flew on their 51st day the same as the ones you mentioned! They are now flying around this area, landing on the other roofs near by, and spending time down on the sand at low tide. One of the chicks now has a sore foot or leg and has difficulty walking; we are concerned about it and hope that it is something that will heal. He is also the least coordinated of the three and has always had difficulty making good landings. I have spend a fair amount of time watching them and recently have also watched them at low tide and find it fascinating watching the adults try to teach them to find food etc. There must have been a whole flock of chicks hatched about the same time as we are amazed at the amount of young we see both flying and feeding near the tidal pools.

We feel very fortunate to have had the experience of seeing this family of gulls from the building of the nest; watching the newly hatched wee little balls of fluff bounce up and down and flap their tiny little wings; and now these sort of gangly adolescents, flopping around as they learn to fly, always begging for food; and the amazing adults with their infinite patience having the major task of training them to fend for themselves. Its awesome!

Thank you for all the information on your web site and for your emails, it really helped us to have this communication!!!

Best Wishes!
Darlynne

]]> By: Jill http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2008/08/seagull-survey-10/comment-page-1/#comment-225 Jill Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:22:42 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=411#comment-225 What a shame! Some people are very cruel to animals. If your neighbours had only waited another week or two the birds would probably have left of their own free will. As it is, they will probably miss the security that their nest represented, but they will probably be okay so long as they are not actually driven off the territory. Roxanne and Jill What a shame! Some people are very cruel to animals.
If your neighbours had only waited another week or two the birds would probably have left of their own free will. As it is, they will probably miss the security that their nest represented, but they will probably be okay so long as they are not actually driven off the territory.
Roxanne and Jill

]]> By: Darlynne http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2008/08/seagull-survey-10/comment-page-1/#comment-224 Darlynne Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:37:42 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=411#comment-224 Hi Jill and Roxanne, The neighbours had some roofers clean the roof yesterday, with hoses and brooms etc., and really stressed the adults and chicks, and they removed the nest. I called Environment Canada and they will be coming to speak with the neighbours and let them know that what they have done is illegal; but the damage re the nest removal is done. Not having their nest may stress the chicks, we’ll have to wait and see. The species of gull is the – Glacaus-Winged Gull....white with grey wings. Also, just to let you know, I have really enjoyed your web sight, the articles and pictures are great, I’m learning so much more about a fascinating beautiful bird! Thanks! Darlynne Hi Jill and Roxanne,

The neighbours had some roofers clean the roof yesterday, with hoses and brooms etc., and really stressed the adults and chicks, and they removed the nest. I called Environment Canada and they will be coming to speak with the neighbours and let them know that what they have done is illegal; but the damage re the nest removal is done. Not having their nest may stress the chicks, we’ll have to wait and see.
The species of gull is the – Glacaus-Winged Gull….white with grey wings.
Also, just to let you know, I have really enjoyed your web sight, the articles and pictures are great, I’m learning so much more about a fascinating beautiful bird!

Thanks!
Darlynne

]]> By: Jill http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2008/08/seagull-survey-10/comment-page-1/#comment-223 Jill Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:15:42 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=411#comment-223 Hullo Darlynne, It's a pity your neighbours don't like their house guests. We would feel quite honoured if a seagull chose to nest on our foredeck! Our hand-reared yellow-legged gulls both flew when they were 51 days old, so it could be that your if neighbours will just wait one more week the birds will go. On the other hand it could be different for other species. And it could be that, even after they have flown, the birds will still want to come home to their nest territory! What kind of gulls are they? The yellow-legged gulls take about a week to learn to fly confidently and until this time they seem to want to stick close to home. Jill and Roxanne Hullo Darlynne,

It’s a pity your neighbours don’t like their house guests. We would feel quite honoured if a seagull chose to nest on our foredeck!

Our hand-reared yellow-legged gulls both flew when they were 51 days old, so it could be that your if neighbours will just wait one more week the birds will go.
On the other hand it could be different for other species.
And it could be that, even after they have flown, the birds will still want to come home to their nest territory!

What kind of gulls are they?

The yellow-legged gulls take about a week to learn to fly confidently and until this time they seem to want to stick close to home.

Jill and Roxanne

]]> By: Darlynne http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2008/08/seagull-survey-10/comment-page-1/#comment-221 Darlynne Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:30:42 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=411#comment-221 I would like to know at what age do seagulls start to fly. There is a nest of three on the roof of a neighbour. They are almost 6 weeks old and are doing a bit of flapping of wings. The neighbour wants them off of the roof but in our area they are a protected species. We look down on this roof and have been watching them since hatching and have gown very fond of them and constantly worry about thier getting enough to eat, and thier survival. I would like to know at what age do seagulls start to fly. There is a nest of three on the roof of a neighbour. They are almost 6 weeks old and are doing a bit of flapping of wings. The neighbour wants them off of the roof but in our area they are a protected species. We look down on this roof and have been watching them since hatching and have gown very fond of them and constantly worry about thier getting enough to eat, and thier survival.

]]> By: Katy http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2008/08/seagull-survey-10/comment-page-1/#comment-159 Katy Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:18:11 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=411#comment-159 Thank you for including the map of the nests on the island. I'm a real 'pictures person' and it makes it so much easier for me to visualise the locations when I can see them mapped out! Good luck with the herpetology. I am just off to consult a dictionary....! Katy Thank you for including the map of the nests on the island. I’m a real ‘pictures person’ and it makes it so much easier for me to visualise the locations when I can see them mapped out!

Good luck with the herpetology. I am just off to consult a dictionary….!

Katy

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