This seagull is eating pigeons

[Ivor]

Hi to everyone,

A friend of mine start feeding a huge flock of feral pigeons probably 2 months ago, she goes at least 3 times a week, she mentioned to me that she saw this seagull eating a pigeon one time, first I thought that was because the bird was sick, My friend told me that when she saw the seagull the bird was already dead.

She mentioned the same thing a few times now, and today she said that she saw when the seagull was chasing all the birds, and that is how the seagull attack and kill the pigeons, she was telling me that she is seeing that mostly every day now, I couldn't believe it, I don't know what to say or to do, I don't walk around that area, because is far from my work... but I wonder if is something normal, are the seagulls predators for pigeons? I feed some flocks too but if I see a seagull I don't let them get close to my pigeons, I saw one seagull attacking a pigeon in front of me one time, and I chase that seagull but I never heard about seagull eating pigeons, I just think is horrible, poor birds cars kill them in the city, people hate them and still have to deal with this?

Any suggestion? she can't move the flock from there because according to her they are there for a very long time, they are many homeless around that area, and she said that sometimes the birds follow one of the homeless...

Is just hard for my friend to watch that every day, any advice?

Ivette

[sreeshs]

The seagulls usually eat insects, worms, fish, etc. The four year gulls are known to eat small birds too like small ducks, in that case pigeons can be a prey too.

I really don't know whether this is common or the gull started this because it was deprived of its natural common food. If this is one single seagull then it might be an exception. I hope the other seagulls won't start following the act.

[Larry_Cologne]

There was a video on YouTube within the last two years of a pelican swallowing a live pigeon, while a crowd of people stood around and watched. (This was in England). I didn't -- couldn't -- watch the video.

The only thing I can think of is that if she sees a seagull chasing a pigeon, for her to loudly clap her hands (with her hands cupped, so that it makes a plosive or loud popping sound. This should alarm the pigeons and set them to flight. (I have seen pigeons in Cologne take flight when a motorcycle made noise even from a block or so away, or from some similar noise, such as a car door slamming).

I would think that an alert pigeon could outmaneuver and outfly a seagull. But, I'm not an expert on seagulls versus pigeons.

Larry

[spirit wings]

I can see a seagull picking out a small young or sick pigeon and eating it,They pretty much eat anything, they love the big dumps, I can only imagine what they eat out there...ekkkk.. not a nice thing for a human to stomach, mother nature can be gross sometimes.

[Ivor]

I didn't watch the videos, but thank you for let me know about this, every time I feed ferals and I watch any seagull close, I stay until the seagulls are gone, that is sick, they should be fishing instead of kill birds, anyways, I appreciate the information and I guess nothing to do about the mother nature...

Ivette

Ivette

[Pawbla]

Pigeons are not so skilled in flying in the coast. I actually saw one that looked like he was "flocking" with the seagulls. He followed them around and ate with them, but he always stayed a bit on the back when they were flying. I'm guessing sea winds aren't exactly the best. I think a pigeon could easily be killed.

[Jaye]

Originally Posted by conditionfreak

This kind of stuff happens all of the time in nature. Disgusting as it is. But no different than a lion eating a gazelle.

These will upset you and if you are easily disheartened, do not watch them.


Pelican eats live pigeon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b4TU_R7J3c

Crow eats live pigeon: (keep in mind that many hear love the crows around their pigeons because they harass hawks)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0_NMfBh-Is

Seagull drowning and eating a pigeon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTViyckNqAw

Turtle drowning and eating a pigeon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHDM7eDCKI

This is something that I thought I would never see. A cow eating a baby chicken:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXhElaGCZVU

There are a lot of videos like this on youtube. What irks me the most, is that in most of them, the people watching just laugh and laugh. They even put them to music. One guy even says that it is the most hilarious thing he has ever seen.

You know, Condition...I mean...is any of that really even necessary ? At the end there you claim how disturbing it is to see people's reactions. But seriously...is there a point to directing folks here to any of those ?

Ivor: this terrible thing is happening. Any advice ?

Condition: here's a video of (among other things) a Cow eating a Chick.



What the heck are you thinking ? What the heck is the point, really ?

Just too strange...too strange.....

[Pawbla]

It doesn't look like something strange to me. Conditionfreak was just pointing out more examples (and he said above them that you shouldn't watch if... blah blah).

[Matt Bell]

Jaye, its called opening people's eyes to how nature actually works. Everyone seems to think that the world is full of rainbows and smiles, sorry folks that isn't how it works, I personally think its a good education for those that think we can just step in and stop thinks. NEWSFLASH: People are also animals, we aren't any better than anything you see in those videos.

[Jay3]

The video of the cow eating the chick was really cruel. Those idiots set it up. If you look close, you will notice that the chick was tied, and couldn't get away. At the end, the cow broke the string. So that is sick. They actually enjoyed watching that. I agree with Jaye. You could have mentioned the videos without posting them. I only saw the cow video, and that was enough. I thought surely a cow wouldn't eat a chick. What does that say about people who will do that?

[Jay3]

Originally Posted by Pawbla

Pigeons are not so skilled in flying in the coast. I actually saw one that looked like he was "flocking" with the seagulls. He followed them around and ate with them, but he always stayed a bit on the back when they were flying. I'm guessing sea winds aren't exactly the best. I think a pigeon could easily be killed.

Actually Pawbla, where pigeons originated from, they lived on the windy cliffs that overhang the sea. They are very strong flyers.

[TAWhatley]

Since the posting of these video links was reported as an offensive post, I feel I must reply here. While I, personally, find these videos extremely disturbing, I must point out that Conditionfreak did warn people:

These will upset you and if you are easily disheartened, do not watch them.

I further don't see any real value in having posted these links but can't really say that it is or was any violation of the board rules.

Thus, the post stays, and those that want to look at the videos can and those that don't look have probably done themselves a favor.

Terry

[TAWhatley]

You CAN report these videos as offensive and/or animal abuse to Youtube. They actually do a pretty good job of taking down stuff that really shouldn't be there. You have to have a Youtube account to do this, but the account is free, and reporting videos does work.

Terry

[conditionfreak]

I have indeed reported these and several dozen other videos on youtube, as offensive and staged cruelty. There are much much worse things than these on there.

As to those offended by these videos. How do you know what the links show? How do you know they are not actors in costumes and made up as cartoons? How do you come to the conclusion that I didn't actually misname these postings, and that they are political advertisements?

I'll tell you how. You watched them. Even after I wrote what they were about and warned you that they were disgusting.

Sanctimonious hypocrites.

This is nature. Kids learn this stuff in kindergarten. It is on the Animal Planet stations, as well as almost EVERY TV station, at one time or another. There are literally hundreds of threads on this site, describing in detail hawk attacks, raccoon attacks, and the like. The news channels are full of videos showing humans being treated as bad as this. By both man and nature. Do you not watch the news? Do you send them nasty letters telling them to quit showing war scenes? Disabled veterans? Earthquake victims? Crime videos? etc, etc?

I issued a warning. More than one (disgusting and disheartening, and do not view if it will upset you). Yet, you still CHOSE to view it/them.

What is it with the name Jay? It is my middle name and I believe I will change it. There is something about it that makes people weird. Are you two actually one person, using a shill account? You seem to run together often.

Why did you even come to this thread, after seeing the title? Which I did not initiate.

I know why and you know why.

What in the world is wrong with how God made this planet and the living things on it? Did HE make a mistake? Did HE do something that you believe is evil? Could you have done it better?

I have been in the military for 8 years and a policeman for 27 years. I have had relatives die. I have put to sleep dogs I loved as family. I get tears in my eyes when a hawk gets one of my birds and eats it alive. I mourn each and every pigeon that never comes home from a race or training.

But I understand that this is our world. I do not shy away from it. I have not kept it a secret from my sons. I will not keep it hidden from my grandchild. Fore warned is fore armed. I do not even kill spiders found in my house. I capture them and take them out into the woods. To be honest, my wife would squash them in a second, if I did not stop her. She thinks I am silly because of my regard for the life of even the smallest and most hated of living things.

But, I digress.


I was trying to show the original poster, and whomever else that doesn't understand how nature works. That the original premise of this thread, was not a unique or abnormal thing. It is nature and the way God intended it to be.

Or it would not be.

Now, go harass someone else. You are getting pretty good at it, judging by your past encounters on this site.

[conditionfreak]

I have voluntarily deleted my posting of the youtube links. I hope that Jaye will delete his posting, where he quoted and re-posted them. In infinite wisdom.