Subject: [Tweeters] Seagull Lost Its Lunch--Gunnel
Date: Jun 12 20:19:56 2010
From: Beach Dee - beachdee at hotmail.com



Saturday around 11:30 am, looking out kitchen window I observed a crow dogging a seagull, who commenced evasive maneuvers but quickly chickened out and dropped the large "something" it had in its beak, followed up with a loud and plaintive objection to the whole affair, then flew off towards the Sound. The crow landed next to the largish (for something a seagull would be carrying) payload now laying in clear view on my neighbor's driveway. I grabbed the binoculars and then had a good laugh because when the crow pecked at the long, eel-ish thing, it gave a very hearty flip and flop, which made the crow jump away. The crow tried another, more timid attempt to approach its prize, but when it gave a few more robust flips and flops, the crow decided to pass on this as a lunch item and took off. I ran over to see up-close and the neighbors were happy enough to let me bring it home, where I quickly took some pics (for later ID) and then got in the car and ran the critter down to the beach. Very low tide, but I took it out to the pools and put it under some seaweed. Even if it doesn't survive, the numerous seagulls and crows that were on the beach turning over seaweed in search of edibles, would at least give it a more proper recycling (or perhaps as a feast for the crabs) than it going into the trash. Back home and looking at the pics, it turned out to be a good-sized, beautifully-marked Rockweed Gunnel (it was about 8.5 inches, near the upper limit of 23cm I saw listed on-line, and well over the 5-6 inches stated in my Audubon Guide to the PacNW). Apparently they are able to breathe air for periods of time. It was large enough that I think that gull would have had a problem getting it down, let alone the crow. An interesting and unexpected interlude to the day (although rather rough on the unfortunate gunnel).



Danene Warnock

Edmonds

beachdee at hotmail.com


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