Red in Tooth and Claw, Yes, But...

[akirlu]

Crossing the transit plaza this morning, I heard the distinctive cries of a juvenile gull clamoring to be fed by an adult. I glanced over to spot an adult gull fussing with some prize in its beak, and yes, sure enough, a gray-mottled juvenile waddling around it, requesting the morsel. About then was when I realized that the "morsel" was an entire pigeon, which the adult gull had clamped in its beak. The pigeon was still fluttering erratically, as the gull gave it another shake. The young gull ducked its head after the prize, begging to be fed. A small cluster of other pigeons formed a staring circle around the spectacle, mesmerized or unconcerned, I don't know which. I felt my gorge rise a little and dove directly into my elevator down to the tunnel platform, struggling to make sense of the image still impressed on my retina.

I don't quite get it, I guess. Was I witness to some sort of small episode of species evolution? Have gulls figured out that if they can eat fish they can eat smaller birds, as well? No reason why not, I guess. Some raptors do, and reputedly crows do as well, but it's not what I'm used to expecting from seagulls. I suppose it's a niche that's been waiting to be filled -- an urban bird that preys on other urban birds, and it would probably be good for urban environments to have pigeons subject to natural predation -- but it's going to take some getting used to if this is the sign of a new normal.

Comments

[coth.livejournal.com]

We once watched a pelican eat a pigeon. A regular sight in London parks, apparently, and one that sparks similar reflections.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Huh. I don't even think of pelicans as urban birds; far moreso than gulls, I think of them as strictly a sea bird. I suppose they come up the Thames easily enough, though, huh? And are even better suited to swallowing an entire pigeon, now that you mention it. But it still seems weird to me.

[coth.livejournal.com]

There are pelicans in several London parks having been kept as exotics and more-or-less naturalised.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Your post predictably made me think of Tom Lehrer, which in turn led me to discover this very fine video matchup of his song with an either totally appropriate or totally inappropriate movie.

[maribou]

I'd never thought about it before, but after poking about on the internet, apparently bird-eating is a fairly common gull behavior (especially anything that can't put up a fight). They aren't specialists so will basically eat anything that isn't tied down, I guess. Who knew?

[seawasp]

Almost all animals are potentially carnivorous. Deer are known to kill and eat rodents, especially in winter. Gulls of course are carnivorous already, so if there isn't enough available fish, they'll supplement their diet with whatever's available. Squirrels do the same thing.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Though according to this piece (admittedly in The Mirror, so caveat lector applies), the behavior hasn't caught on among London gulls generally, despite one well documented individual regularly killing pigeons, and it is theorized that it's because it's quite tricky for gulls to actually catch and kill pigeons, not having evolved the strong, gripping talons that raptors have. Indeed, the fact that the London gull drowns them seems quite clever to me, and apparently he's evolved his technique over time.

Birds eating birds

[u-must-b-joking.livejournal.com]

A biologist out of Eugene Oregon told me he once watched a great blue heron eat a dipper, a foodstuff not previously reported for them. I don't think a predatory bird eating another bird that spends so much time underwater should come as a surprise. "Hey it looked like grub so I ate it."