to the seagull with the broken beak
Please note that this post contains descriptions and an image of an animal that may not doing too well.
When I first saw you, I was carrying on with my life, in autopilot. You made me pause and feel for you. Your beak is crooked, like a scissor. I wonder how you eat and whether you are doing ok. I run through what I can do to help you. I should call a wildlife helpline. But I am exhausted and recovering from the flu. I regretfully retreat to go back home with the energy I have left. I will have you in my thoughts, gull1.
A few days pass. I feel human again post-flu. I decide to get a coffee and a sandwich from a cart nearby. The sky is grey and the air is frigid. I usually walk and eat but something draws me to enjoy the coffee and food on a seat.
I take my first bite of the sandwich. And then there you appeared. My first thought is of elation that you've survived. My next thought is what the right thing to do here. Do I give you some of the food I am having even though it might be bad for you? You patiently waited as I slowly ate and mulled this over.
I give in and tear off a piece for you to enjoy. How you ate that piece of my sandwich impressed me. You use your bottom (good) beak to stab the food and then direct it into your mouth and swallow. I like to think you've adapted to your ailment and might be ok. You look relatively healthy based on your feathers. It continues to give me hope.
I'm late for my work meetings. I rush back home, hoping to see you again.
It's lunch time and it's time to go to the town centre! Today is sunny and I feel really present. I take my camera2 with me today. Hoping to capture some streetscapes. But wait, maybe I will see my old pal, Gull. I prepare something for it this time. I research and see that a ripe banana is relatively healthy for them. I have one of those! A part of me feel guilty and is therefore compelled to help. Do others give you food? Am I the only one that notices you?
I now know where you hang out. And this time, since I was taking photos today, I feel like I am more observant. You look like you've deteriorated since the last time I saw you. Your feathers are unclean, ruffled, and I can feel you're not doing well. I need to call WIRES3 for you so they can help you out. But first, I find a good spot and start giving you a piece of banana that I think you will be able to stab and swallow.
As I give you some of the ripe banana, I see other gulls gather around you, trying to capitalise on the food that is now available. You fight them off. It's probably a learnt behaviour because for you, every bit of food counts. Your deformed beak cannot do the normal foraging your fellow healthy gulls can do.
I take a photo of you to immortalise you. Both on my film camera and on my phone. I call WIRES and they say they have someone nearby that can help! I provide the address where I have been seeing it regularly and other behaviours I have noticed. I walk home as help will only come in the evening.
Some hours pass, and the volunteer is about to head to the site to help. I mention I will go down there and check if Gull is still there. I have work to do but I feel like this is the right thing to do if I can help another living thing. As I get closer to the site, I hear the gull begging for food. That moment made my heart sink.
I thought of your existence as waiting in this area you have been outcast to, relying on strangers to take pity on you and give you food that you can hopefully get into your mouth. Then I remind myself that you have survived thus far and you are smart and adaptable. But a little extra food and care would never be missed - especially for you. I confirm with the WIRES volunteer that you're still there. She is bringing nutritious food and care for you. I take solace in the fact that you're still around and that I have been able to see you and hopefully get you some help and relief that you need. I hope you survive and thrive, Gull.
The Silver Gull is currently being looked after by WIRES and I am awaiting further updates from them. I'll post updates here if I encounter it again!
