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ELVIRA - A BABY SEAGULL RESCUE STORY

CATALUNYA JUNE 2014

At the beginning of June a young yellow legged gull was seen bobbing about on the seashore of the campsite. It was being dive-bombed by a couple of adult gulls who no doubt saw it as their next meal. Surprisingly, some time later it managed to struggle ashore and took refuge under the caravans. It was too young to fly and remained by our vans making begging and mewing calls. They had their desired effect and titbits and fresh water were provided for it. It was at this stage that I arrived. My initial reaction, coming from an area where such gulls, by their numbers, are considered a pest and a great nuisance, was to ignore it. We also thought it must be sick and would not survive. However after a few days it was still thriving, growing stronger and bigger. At this point I should mention that, unlike at home in the UK where they are the top of the food chain, here because of predators such as eagles, vultures and peregrines there is a natural balance within the gull population. There are not many here in this busy fishing port and they usefully clean up all the fish waste from the harbour and village shore areas.
So I was swept along by the general activities of providing food and water for it. The name Elvira was chosen and the relationship with 'her' began.

It was decided that for her future well-being she should be encouraged to forage independently. Her wings grew longer and stronger and about a month later on a very windy day I was watching her standing on the roof of my awning when she spread her wings and rose above my head. What a memorable moment when she just hung there in the wind looking almost as surprised as me. What amazement when she started to fly up and around the campsite, giving impressive demonstrations, gliding and hanging to swoop and diving just to soar yet again. Then when she saw us with a tasty titbit she would drop down to our feet or by one of our caravans.
I think when I watch a gull flying from now on it will be with new sight.

She now spends most of her time away in the port, retuning every other day or so. Will she survive the winter and the birds of prey and will we see her next year?

Видео ELVIRA - A BABY SEAGULL RESCUE STORY канала Jenny Oaten
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3 августа 2014 г. 17:08:52
00:10:01
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