The bird blind on Mitlenatch Island looks down over a rocky cliff painted white with gull guano. There's a plank bench big enough for 4 people, and a plank (the same one?) removed from the wall, leaving a gap to peer through. The gulls don't seem to notice us, only a few feet away, and go about their important business unperturbed.
One of the gulls on the nearest rock was showing off, repeatedly opening his mouth wide as if to screech, but soundlessly, unless his call was beyond human ears' reach. The others didn't seem too impressed.
Our guide explained that this is courtship behaviour. I Googled it and found no more info, so I'll have to translate the proceedings as best I can.
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| "Check out my tonsils!" |
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| "Good one, eh?" |
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| "He actually thinks he's funny," says gull 2. |
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| "Hee, hee, hee! Chortle!" |
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| Face palms, gull style. At least the clown is happy. And silent. |
Far below us, in the water, seals were swimming, birds were diving. We left the blind and went on down the trail.
(3rd in a series of 9 Mitlenatch Island posts.
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I laughed out loud at your translation of bird behavior. The other 2 gulls were SO not impressed....
ReplyDeleteI used to love stopping by Mitlenatch when we crossed over to Quadra or Campbell River, but now that we don't have a dinghy we can't get to shore. - Margy
ReplyDeleteThat gull was definitely enjoying him/herself. Life of the party!
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