Have you ever noticed that seagulls rarely, if ever, sit in trees? It’s something that I’ve noticed from my confinement due to chronic illness.
I look out of my windows to view the wildlife and seasonal changes. It’s surprising what can be observed from just a window. Whether it’s the crows’ nests in Winter, or squirrels darting around the trees, I’ve gained a pleasure in observing what, in my previous relatively healthy life, I would have missed. Of course, this time of year many birds have now flown South for the Winter; but I caught a glimpse of the flocks of geese and the murmurations of starlings gathering for their long journeys.
I live on the Dorset coast in England. Although I live in a residential area, there plenty of trees around — evergreen and broadleaf. In this part of the world there are plenty of Scots pines and other far grander pine trees. Other trees around here include Sweet and Horse-chestnut, Oaks, Poplars and, in a neighbour’s garden, a small ornamental Maple. The Maple changes wonderfully through the year from a fresh green, then with fiery tips, and now is a vibrant orange-gold.
I love watching all these things, but I also consider what these things can teach us. For example, I’ve previously written about the stability of crows’ nests and its relation to my own personal strength.
But what about those seagulls? Whenever I’ve watched them, they always sit where they have a clear vantage point — which is why they love roof tops. They wouldn’t have such a clear view surrounded by branches and leaves. They are bold birds who want to see what is going on around them.
I think in this world they are an example of keeping the most important things in view. It’s easy to become surrounded with ‘things’ that the main objective, the most important ‘things’, becomes lost in the mayhem. Seagulls are aggressive birds (and noisy) but they never lose their focus or purpose.
Copyright © 2024 Charlotte Clark
Charlotte Clark 