The sun may be lighting up the sky in a spectacular display of color, but there’s another reason why nobody’s sleeping in this morning. Some mother’s child is upsetting the peace and quiet of the marsh with incessant whining. Good grief!
Despite its camouflage plumage and the low light, it’s easy to see from where the annoying whining is originating. I’ve caught this act before. It’s not unusual to see immature seagulls pestering adults for food. It’s an odd sight as some of these juveniles appear just as large as the parent.
The whiner’s mother is of course ignoring it and pretending it’s someone else’s offspring that’s waking up the entire neighborhood.
What’s a parent to do, especially with a child that should be old enough to fend for itself?
‘Feed the brat!!’ the cormorant suggests. But is that really the best solution?
Don’t give in to whining. Giving in teaches a child that whining is the sort of behaviour and tone of voice that will generate a result.
~ Jo Frost aka Supernanny
Okay, so you don’t give in. But surely there has to be a way to make it stop. Late last week I came across the carcass of a juvenile gull along the trail. Did the eagles take matters into their own hands talons that day?
Who knows? Unfortunately, what goes on in the marsh stays in the marsh. The cormorants certainly weren’t disclosing anything on that story.
Certain fur-children who shall remain nameless have learned that whining at dawn generates a result that might not be exactly what the whiner was hoping for. Things have grown quite peaceful around here. But then, we do not keep gulls about the place.
Gerry, if fur-children can learn how to curb their whining, then there’s hope for the hair-children too.
Though gulls will infrequently visit the yard if large bread crumbs are put out, their whining seems to be restricted to the marsh.
Hope it wasn’t the same youngster we saw whining out on the trail last week.
“Mommmeeee — I’m hungreeeeeeeeeeeee! “
Sybil, it could be that same one. They look so much alike. We’ll have to start getting their names.
I loved reading this and seeing your lovely pictures (except that sad last one of course.) It’s almost like a chapter of The Wind in The Willows! However, we currently have four pigeon eggs waiting to hatch in the wisteria, and I am now a little apprehensive about broken early-morning sleeps to come! 🙂
Hi Janice,
Thank you for letting me know that you enjoyed the post 🙂
I don’t know how much noise those baby pigeons will make. My sister had a nest of them on her balcony a couple of years ago:
https://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/when-doves-lie/
Guess the youngings, no matter species, is always keeping Mom up!
Wolfsrosebud, all mothers seem to have to get by with less sleep than required. Even bears give birth while they’re ‘hibernating’.’
I’m with Jo Frost on this one! Do what ever it takes to stop that whining. My father used to say “If you don’t stop crying, I’ll give you something to cry about” Nice……………..
Lynne, Supernanny certainly knows where it’s at, doesn’t she? And so do the grandmothers of the world 😉
What an amusing story, Amy, I was giggling all the way through.
I didn’t know young seagulls could ‘whine’?!
Your story gave me a good laugh 🙂
Am a bit sorry for the guy in the last photo, but nature is nature, I guess.