Date: 2/6/13 10:47 am
From: Russ Ruffing <ruff2...>
Subject: [MDBirding] Hunt Valley Mall gulls


I had lunch at the mall today and got take out so I could sit in the lot and look through the gulls. After about ten minutes the Black-headed Gull showed up and joined the flock of 35 Ring-billeds. Right before I left, a woman came driving through and threw a bunch of food out her window. The flock converged on the food, of course, but as they did I watched one bird get stuff under the carriage of the car as it was moving. The gull was able to get out unscathed. Af few seconds later, a large delivery truck drove slowly through the lot and one Ring-billed failed to move and got caught partially under the front wheel. I couldn't believe it failed to get out of the way, but sure enough, it's wing was severely broken and it looked like the bird's body got squished to some degree. It was bleeding from the mouth and panting heavily. I'm sure it won't survive and I thought about just ending it so it wouldn't suffer but there were a number of people watching the proceedings and I couldn't bring myself to do it. I likely would have had to run it over with the car as it was still fairly mobile - enough to scamper away from me.

Not a fun way to end lunch! First time I've seen this happen at this location and I've spent a lot of time here since last December!

Russ Ruffing
Woodstock, MD

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