California dreaming with gulls and squirrels [The Green Ogre]

Six years ago, I stopped at a viewpoint on the California coast between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It was a sunny afternoon, about 4 pm. A great flock of assorted gulls were feeding on scraps thrown to them by motorists.

Along with the gulls were Brewer’s Blackbirds (Euphagus cyanocephalus) and that cute, confiding rodent known as the California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi). Bird and beast ate tamely out of our hands. And while the spectacle touched the animal lover in me, I couldn’t help fearing for the creatures’ health for eating all that salty and fatty food.

At a viewpoint on the Pacific coast somewhere between San Francisco and Los Angeles, we stopped to stretch our legs. I’ve never seen so many gulls in one place, mewling and clucking like fancy chickens as they sunned on the pier.

Squawking, squabbling, they waddled up to us, beaks gaping. They replaced the beggars you might find at any pilgrim site in India.

Brewer's Blackbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds and California Ground Squirrels frequented — Brewer’s Blackbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds and California Ground Squirrels frequented the scrubby seaside bushes. They were greedy but adorable, and that’s what kept them going.

This little California Ground Squirrel ambled up and went nuts all over my palm, nibbling the (unsalted) nuts I offered it. Usually, I don’t feed wild animals but something childish inside me caved.

Handsome fellow, isn’t he? Sitting there, lazy and well-fed, blinking sleepily at the dying winter sun.

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Bijoy Venugopal

Founder-editor of The Green Ogre, Beej began this blog as a solo writing project in 2006. A communications professional, he has worked as a corporate storyteller, journalist, travel writer, cartoonist and photo-blogger. He is an active birder and citizen science enthusiast.

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Bijoy Venugopal

Founder-editor of The Green Ogre, Beej began this blog as a solo writing project in 2006. A communications professional, he has worked as a corporate storyteller, journalist, travel writer, cartoonist and photo-blogger. He is an active birder and citizen science enthusiast.
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