Coyote

Remember the seagulls that congregate in the middle of the soccer field, right in the center of the track? Ever since I arrived I marvel at the hordes of white and gray winged creatures that flock there for no apparent reason other than that they can. Some have told me it is due to the pond on the other side of the bleachers, but that begs the question why not congregate on the pond side of the bleachers?

Some have said its because there are lots of earthworms living in the fertile green grass in the center of the track and field. I didn't think seagulls ate earthworms. How do they pick them out of the grass with their hooked beaks? Others say its because of the food scraps left behind by the sports crowds, but there are seldom crowds there munching anything seagulls would want.

No, I think its just a habit. They settled there and now there is no reason to go elsewhere. I am used to seeing seagulls despite our 15 to 20 mile distance from Lake Ontario. I suppose it is nothing to them to flit a few miles for a tasty meal and a secure perch. Still, there are so many of them. It's not that they are particularly troublesome, though of course there is the inevitable squawking and poo mess to deal with. I giggled on move in day to see them all airborne, wheeling and turning overhead, unwilling to be constantly disturbed by new students dashing about.

Today I began to hear disturbing stories about a coyote down on the field, chasing the seagulls away. What? A coyote right in the middle of a suburban neighborhood? Where did it come from? Why isn't someone calling the animal patrol? Turns out, the Facilities and Security departments found a life-sized stuffed-animal coyote and stuck it in centerfield in an attempt to scare away the seagulls. It seems to be working. The field was bird free for the first time in a long while. I wonder how long that will "fly" before they figure it out. I shall be interested in tracking it. Let's hope it doesn't scare away other critters we need.