Don Alley
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Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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Baby Seagulls
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Packoderm
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Registered: 11-7-2002
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What about baby pigeons?
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
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baja sur
Banned
Posts: 45
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Capo Beach & El ojo de la tempestad.
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Mom & Baby bald eagles Live.
http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/default.asp
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tehag
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seagulls
Nice photo. Why not post it here also?
http://bajabirding.org/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=5
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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Great site, and great pictures!
I'll post this pic there too, as soon as my log in is activated.
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Sallysouth
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Posts: 1835
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Capo Beach
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Mood: missing Baja...
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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]
Happiness is just a Baja memory away...
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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| 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.
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