Aloha, La Jolla!
If it takes a community to raise a child, it takes a neighborhood to help a fledging seagull earn its wings.
My seagull summer began when a pair of the gregarious shorebirds took up residency in a sheltered rooftop corner of our Windansea home. “Good morning!” I called out when I spotted the couple peering down at me from their roof-line perch. “We’re so glad you’ll be raising your family with us.”
I named the seagulls Gladys and Knight, fitting names for a dynamic duo who worked in tandem to build their nest and waited patiently for their newborn to hatch.
When baby Pip burst out of a tiny egg four weeks later – a downy white ball splashed with black polka dots – his arrival reset my life to the rhythm of seagull parenting.
Watching Gladys and Knight raise their chick amid the hustle and bustle of our beachside neighborhood has been a fascinating adventure. Since seagulls are synonymous with La Jolla, I hope the following observations will cultivate a spirit of appreciation for our family-centric feathered friends. Their all-in approach to parenting is the essence of community.
A Family Affair Seagulls parent in threes. When you spot a baby seagull, look around and you’ll find a mom, dad and an adult ally roosting nearby. This family safety net offers parents peace of mind as they navigate the challenges of parenting their chicks in our unpredictable — and sometimes dangerous — urban environment. It also affords busy parents an extra pair of eyes when babies venture out of their nests and into a brave new world.
Love at First Flight A baby seagull’s first flight is a joyful sight to behold. Each fledgling flight is a leap of faith, made possible by the verbal coaxing and in-flight coaching of its parenting team. Sometimes, a fledgling doesn’t stay aloft during its inaugural flight. That’s the moment when humans can step in to lend a helping hand. If you spot a grounded baby seagull, find a thin beach towel or tablecloth and guide it to a safe, secure space. Bend down slowly and scoop it up in your arms. Look up and around for its adult allies before placing the youngster on a high, flat surface. If you need a step ladder, ask for help! I’ve learned neighbors and merchants are happy to do their part to move a baby seagull to safety.
The Dawn Chorus My seagull summer soundtrack is filled with a captivating array of musical interludes. My favorite is the joyful cry a baby seagull makes during its first fledgling flights. But I’m fascinated with the dawn chorus. This morning ritual of sound and flight is a family affair, choreographed to wake up sleepy fledglings, who are coaxed out of their cozy nests by their adult family members and nudged into a daily routine of flight training and food foraging.
Early risers, like me, wake up to a boisterous tune that sounds like this: Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack! (Get up! Get up! Get up! Get Up!), followed by a succession of rapid-fire honks (Come on! Come on! Come on! Come on!). Once the fledglings are up and about, the chorus crescendos on a high-pitched cry (Let’s Goooo! Let’s Goooo! Let’s Goooo!) as the family flies off together into the dawn’s early light.
What are your favorite seagull summer stories? Drop me a line at: Molly@Windanseacommunications.com.
Molly Bowman-Styles
La Jolla Village News newsletter host
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Should La Jolla Cove close to protect sea lions? San Diego faces mounting pressure
By Thomas Murphy • Times of San Diego
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