Harbour City Ramblings

Let’s say you’re strolling around Victoria.  You find yourself passing through some of the more well-known, streets or shopping areas, in our various villages/squares/mews and what have you.  You could be a tourist, a local, even a Vancouver Islander from a city of another name- anybody.  You can plainly see and appreciate the beauty of these spots, with the odd exception of moments when,  say- there are severed feet washing ashore, or you’re bombarded by the previously discussed dive-bombing crows.

Much unlike the crow situation- when they turn all loud, scavenger-like and aggressive- the seagulls have their own annual practices happening on these rooftops you’re passing by regularly.  Quieter, calmer practices.  The art of making a family.  And I get to witness it first-hand at my work place.

Monday we arrived at work to find the seagull family (who for the last three+ years have made a home for themselves on our deck at the office) successfully hatched 2 out of their 3 eggs.  The third egg and the newborns were being diligently tended to by one of the parents, while the other sat atop a higher look-out point.  They’re very wise, these birds.  With their nest situated directly in a corner of the south-east wall of our deck, shaded during the day, protected at night.  It’s a money set-up, the gull equivalent to a pricey condo in the Aria or the Belvedere in what some are dubbing Victoria’s version of a “mini Yaletown.”

Tuesday morning we were gratified to see egg number three followed it’s siblings lead.  So as my co-worker (and avid outdoors-man) Lea pointed out- this is happening on thousands of rooftops all over the city.  Much like the blooming of the flower beds in our City of Gardens, they started a couple of months later than previous years.

It sure is cool to see it unfold, and unlike the crows these birds don’t take you for enemies if you’re trying to enjoy the sunny summer days out & about.  Ah, cheap humbling entertainment.