USVI-On-Line

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:09 am**

Animal behavior can change drastically in a few years. The laughing gulls were relatively shy and quiet until they figured out that humans are a food source--sometime around 1990. Word got around FAST after that. Now you can stand on a boat and pretend to be throwing small things in the water and gather a raucous crowd in two minutes... especially when they're just getting back from Venezuela in the spring!

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:18 am**

Once when I was walking back to my table from the breakfast buffet at Caneel Bay one of those gulls flew over to me and grabbed the bacon right off my plate! Last time I was there I noticed Caneel had put up some type of netting to keep the birds away.

They are cute birds though.

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:33 am**

When we were at Trunk Bay, my DIL was having a sandwich until a gull swooped down and snatched it out of her hand. Luckily, we had packed other food.

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:40 am**

All I can think when I see this photo is those birds from finding Nemo:

"Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine"

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:11 pm**

Beautifully captured...thanks for sharing.

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:15 pm**

We decided to eat our lunch one afternoon while sitting in a dingy at Waterlemon. Holy Crap

Those birds came out of no-where and were dive bombing the dingy. My poor hubby almost fell overboard trying to scare them away. They won...we put the food away and went snorkeling

XOXO
Bug

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:35 pm**

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:33 pm**

Joshie wrote:Those seagulls are shameless. And ruthless.
-j

They are that!

We live near the ocean in NJ and when my son was maybe 4 years old we bought him a hot dog from a stand on the Ocean City boardwalk.

At that age he was very expressive and always needed to use his hands and arms to get his point across.

SO.....No sooner had we warned him to keep his hot dog close to his body when out of the blue a laughing gull came and plucked just the dog right out of his bun.

The look on his face was of complete disbelief and to this day he still dislikes sea gulls!

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:08 pm**

Great photos, great stories.
I think these lovely birds are the ones that really make a mess on the boat.
We need to retrain them.

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:36 pm**

Rats w/wings (albeit more attractive).

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:38 pm**

StJohnRuth wrote: We need to retrain them.

Good luck Ruth!

Once they are spoiled there is no going back!

They are really bad up here! I just cringe when visitors feed them (and the pigeons). I have never understood why people feel that the birds need their help.

In Ocean City they now have an ordinance against feeding them but I don't think it's enforced fully and it will take years if ever for them to change.

They have become really lazy birds since people interfered .

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:37 pm**

Carolyn-They keep th beach clean though,they'll eat anything. I once saw one swallow a whole chicken bone and that's why when they sh*t on you car it takes the paint off.

Posted: **Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:39 pm**

Thanks for more fabulous photos Joshie

Pia

Posted: **Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:35 am**

Gorgeous water...
Smiles-
Jimmy

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Food Fight

Food Fight