Why Are There Fewer Seagulls on The Beaches of Louisiana and Texas?
When you think of the beach you think of waves, sand, and seagulls. However, have noticed that there aren't as many seagulls on the beach these days.
Now, while some may be rejoicing that the greedy birds are not showing up in the numbers that they once did, you have to admit that the sound coming from these birds does go hand-in-hand with the beach.
If you've ever been on a beach and seagulls were present, you know that the second you feed one or two of them, there's a flock awaiting their piece of food too, and that's where the nuisance of these birds comes into play.
As charming as seagulls may sound while you're out tanning or reading a book on the beach, a flock of seagulls near you can be disgusting---if you know what I mean.
In recent years I have noticed that there are no more flocks of seagulls at the beach, at least where I've been. I've asked others who have visited various shorelines and they too have noticed the absence of seagulls.
Sure, they're not all gone, but you simply do not see as many of the greedy birds as you once have.
I looked up why we may be seeing fewer seagulls at the beach and many cite their food source. Apparently word got out that if you don't feed them, they'll leave or move on, and that seems to be the case.
Many are saying that seagulls have relocated more inland where there is a better food source. If that is so, not giving them bread and small pieces of chips has worked and the iconic beach bird has moved on.
With all of that said, there are some studies suggesting that there are fewer seagulls out in the wild. The numbers seem to be on the decline and those studying the birds have many theories as to why that is so.
One factor is that with less food for them to eat, this has impacted the number of eggs left to hatch and with fewer eggs in the nest, the fewer birds you have in the wild.
So, the next time you're on the beach I encourage you to be a bit more observant of the number of seagulls in your vicinity. I highly doubt you see as many as you once did, and that may be because we've decided to stop supplying them with a food source.
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Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany