Very Important Predators
by Billy Timms
The Smithsonian Seagull
AKA the American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)
On any given day you’ll find the coastline dotted with peaceful beachgoers. Species of all shapes and sizes, out taking in the sun and the oceanside air. Yet, among the merry visitors is a group of voracious predators who are always on the hunt. These rapacious stalkers peer relentlessly, seeking their next prey. We all know them. We see them. We watch them kill, and eat, in the very sands where our children sink their toes.
Seagulls.
For those in North America, the seagull might be known as the American Herring Gull (Larus argentatus smithsonianus), also known as the Smithsonian Gull.
Some free spirits are drawn to the coast for the wild adventure of the untamed ocean, or the peaceful calm offered by beach life. For these kind souls, seagulls may be a symbol of freedom and independence, or even of hope and love. Their high-pitched calls, the French horn to a seaside symphony. These soaring, swooping birds could epitomize a shore getaway.
But beware, never let down your guard or your sandwich! The predators are circling!!!
Beyond the predator and the prey.
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Our world is their hunting ground. Our back yards are their killing fields. They are the masters of land, sea, and sky, the balancers of ecosystems, and the most important predators on earth.
