Marine Life & Conservation
A Seagull And An Unforgiving Sea
It was a bright winter morning on the cliff tops near Sennen Cove in Cornwall. The dark clouds had rolled away leaving a bright sun and a brisk wind. The sea was a clear blue with cresting white water on the wave tops crashing onto the shallow shoreline below.
The Gulls were wheeling high above as well as skimming the cliff face with all the grace and skill of any flying bird. Simply gliding they would race along the rocky edges before turning away to be taken by the updrafts into the clear sky. Others held station a few feet from the cliff tops as if supported by an invisible hand. The shear aviation ability and skill of these birds is truly remarkable. They were calling loudly to one another. What they were saying I have no idea. Maybe they were just calling with sheer pleasure.
Seagulls are too often maligned for being a nuisance; stealing our chips, making too much noise, messing on our cars, etc. But perhaps we should give a moment to consider where the fault actually lies. We have taken much of their habitat, we have destroyed much of their food, we have polluted their environment. Then we take great delight in feeding them when it pleases us, only to complain when they gather around our takeaway pasties.
I think it is in fact remarkable how seagulls have adapted to the modern day world. It has always amazed me when out on a diving boat how one single bird will track and keep an eye on us no matter how far out to sea we go. Then if there is even a slight hint of a free meal, within minutes where there was one there may now be ten or twenty. How do they do that?
Below me at the base of the cliffs a large swell was crashing on the foreshore. Thirty or forty gulls were swimming on the turbulent water looking for food. As each wave approached, the birds easily lifted into the air to let the foaming water pass before once again they settled back down to their foraging. Their timing was impeccable. Then as I watch a juvenile got it completely wrong and got caught by a large wave. The gull was taken under the water and disappeared. I heard myself say ‘Oh no’. Then the bird resurfaced, but it was now well inshore of the breaking surf. I could see it was in shock and panic as it tried to swim its water soaked body out into deeper water. Another wave hit it and once again the young bird disappeared only to resurface even nearer to the shore. It was too waterlogged now to try flying and was desperately swimming out towards the other gulls that seemed quite oblivious to its peril. Even if they were aware there was nothing they could do. Juvenile birds are watched over by adult males and will stay in the flock until old enough to breed, but this bird was very much alone.
Another wave hit it and almost took it into shore. I was calling out to it. ‘Go ashore…. the other way… go to the beach….’ but in its blind panic, even though only a few meters from the safety of the pebble beach, the bird continued its struggle out to sea. Again the gull was taken under the water by a large wave and this time it did not resurface.
I sat and watched in silence and with great sadness as the sea continued throwing its waves on the beach and gulls only fifty meters or so out continued their search for food. I felt quite helpless.
I am always sad when I see an animal die, especially if it is unnecessary. In reality animals die in the wild all the time; we just hardly ever get to see it happen. In the great scheme of things nothing was really lost at the passing of the bird. It was a personal tragedy for it alone. The inexperience of life, the fear, the panic, the pain of drowning.
As divers, we all face the sea on a regular basis and often become complacent to its unforgiving power and indifference. Yet the sea is truly a huge and powerful living organism, sustaining life as well as taking it. Next time you are in its company, have a thought for the gull and consider the untold struggles for life the oceans witness every day.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.
Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.
On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.
Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.
Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.
Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”
The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.
To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.
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