97-12-13, Michael Price writes [and I'm always replying to Michael it seems;
something about his coy wit, encyclopedic knowledge, colorful presentation, or
something, stirs up some far flung memory or anecdote that, if at all, *might*
be barely tethered to the current message board thread] --

<< ...that Sabine's Gull are when migrating overland sometimes to often
nocturnal migrants (apparently they're fairly closely related to Swallow-
tailed Gulls Larus furcatus, which *are* nocturnal) >>

Swallow-tailed Gull (_Larus furcatus_). Mythical poetry in flight... at
sea... at night... completely 100% pure ethereal! The Swallow-tailed Gull is
the most outrageously bizarre gull species on the face of the planet. I don't
even think it came from this planet. It just fell off a passing comet or
something. Maybe it was a gift from Heaven; I don't know. Imagine! A
seagull living exclusively in the tropics of the Eastern Tropical Pacific and
cool waters right on the Equator, highly pelagic, breeding only on the
Galapagos and Malpelo off Colombia. occasionally wandering as far north as the
Gulf of Panama, and south to maybe northern Chile . At sea, rarely seen by
day, horribly shy and indifferent; but by night, oh how the magic comes
alive; often seen by night flash-dancing and hovering in the ship's lights
just off the aft quarters, feeding almost exclusively upon the tiny 2-4 inch
long bioluminescent laternfish (Mectophids), tiny squids, pteropods, and
marine water striders (yes, there are such weird things out there -- the
surface is carpeted with 'em sometimes), and picks them off the surface with
such elegant grace and ease. Incredible bird! Hands down, my favorite
rivaled only by (actually ties with come to think of it) the virgin immaculate
pure white adult Ivory Gull, whiter than snow, whiter than white, whiter than
anything, when viewed and experienced likewise at sea, in the vast ice fields
of the high Arctic.

There is also something else very strange about the Swallow-tailed Gull, and
it's going to break your heart. Being such delicate, graceful, and fearless
creatures, they are devastatingly loyal to their comrades in trouble. In the
name of science and research being as it is, often requires collecting
specimens for study and museum collections. I know. It was my life once-
upon-a-time way back in another life when I was a bio-techi at the
Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History, and after killing and stuffing a few
thousand specimens, I decided I'd had enough; setting the traps, pulling the
trigger, whatever. A whole flock of hovering Swallow-tailed Gulls can be
taken out with one shot. I've seen it; haven't done it thank God! Or, one by
one, a whole flock can be dropped one right on top of the other in less than a
minute; a half-a-dozen or more. Bang-plop, Bang-plop, Bang-plop, and so on,
then the whole collection is scooped up with a single sweep in the dip-net.
And I can tell you I don't like it one little bit! And I never will! Leave
this bird alone!! Sorry if I get emotional. Strange, becoming philosophical,
especially given my background, how these compartmentalized emotions are. I
mean I probably wouldn't have such remorse if the target had been any and no
limit amongst the myriads of 'regular seagulls' gathering over sewage lagoons
and land fills.

Richard Rowlett (Pagodroma at aol.com)
47.56N, 122.13W
(Seattle/Bellevue, WA USA)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
God was my co-pilot,
but when we crashed in the mountains,
I had to eat him :-))
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^