BajaNomad

Baby Seagulls

Don Alley - 5-16-2006 at 04:37 PM

What about baby pigeons?

Packoderm - 5-16-2006 at 04:44 PM

I stumbled across this:

Dear Cecil:

Judging from the number of pigeons inhabiting the city these days, one must assume that either they have very long life spans or they have enormously large numbers of offspring. Yet, although we see our share of baby robins, baby ducks, baby bunnies, and other infant animals, one seldom sees a baby pigeon. Do they emerge full grown from their eggs? Are the squabs simply well hidden, or are they guarded by the parent birds until they are grown, thus assuring a high survival rate? In short, where are all the baby pigeons? --Birdwatching Commuter, Evanston, Illinois

Cecil replies:

I'm mystified by the enduring fascination baby pigeons seem to hold for the Teeming Millions--over the years I've gotten dozen of letters inquiring about their whereabouts. My answer is always the same: the elusive little devils are out there somewhere; you just don't see them because the nests are well hidden and because Ma and Pa Pigeon generally stay with the kiddies for their first few weeks of life. This never seems to satisfy anybody, though, because the letters keep dribbling in. At last, however, I am able report an actual sighting of a bonafide baby pigeon. Read on.

(There are a few back and forths, but it ends with this hypothosis - this is the one I'm going with):

Dear Cecil:

Re your recent comment on baby pigeons: don't be fooled by false sightings from gullible bird lovers. The blunt truth is this: the pigeons you see all over the city are the baby pigeons. The adult has a wingspan of 8-12 feet. When they reach adulthood they fly to remote mountain fastnesses and live off the occasional tourist. I do not, however, subscribe to the theory that the adults will one day return en masse to wreak vengeance on us a la The Birds. --Bob W., Melrose Park, Illinois

baja sur - 5-17-2006 at 12:16 PM

Mom & Baby bald eagles Live.

http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/default.asp

seagulls

tehag - 5-17-2006 at 04:46 PM

Nice photo. Why not post it here also?

http://bajabirding.org/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=5

Don Alley - 5-17-2006 at 05:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tehag
Nice photo. Why not post it here also?

http://bajabirding.org/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=5


Great site, and great pictures!

I'll post this pic there too, as soon as my log in is activated.

Sallysouth - 5-18-2006 at 10:38 PM

Why have I never seen baby seagulls? I have spent nearly my entire life on or by the sea and can't think of ever seeing a seagull as young as those.Maybe Gringorio has the answer ? :?:

[Edited on 5-19-2006 by Sallysouth]

Don Alley - 5-19-2006 at 02:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sallysouth
Why have I never seen baby seagulls? I have spent nearly my entire life on or by the sea and can't think of ever seeing a seagull as young as those.Maybe Gringorio has the answer ? :?:

[Edited on 5-19-2006 by Sallysouth]


They hatch in the spring. The nests are on rocks or mostly small islands, right on the flat ground. On land other than islands predators would make short work of the eggs. The eggs are grey with black spots, same as the chicks. I took this pic at a spot where I know the seagulls nest. I was looking for the chicks. If you aren't looking for them, you won't see them, they camoflage very well against the rocks.