Seagulls typically avoid perching on trees, preferring open spaces and structures like telephone wires, rooftops, and docks.
In the realm of everyday life, it's easy to overlook the familiar and take things for granted. But for one curious individual, recent discoveries have brought a newfound appreciation for the ordinary.
First, the speaker found themselves pondering a seemingly innocuous detail - the clocks in advertisements always showing ten past ten. This seemingly trivial observation led to a surprising realization: the clocks in advertisements are purposefully set to this time, giving the impression of a smiling face. A detail that was previously unknown to the speaker, yet a part of their life for as long as they could remember.
This discovery led to a moment of reflection, as the speaker recognized that they were entering a phase of life often referred to as the "I've seen this before" phase. This phase, associated with getting older, is characterized by a sense of familiarity and knowing what to expect. Yet, in this case, the speaker found that there were still things to learn, even in familiar situations.
Meanwhile, the speaker's understanding of seagulls was also challenged. They had thought they knew a lot about these common coastal birds, but a chance encounter led to a surprising revelation - seagulls cannot sit on trees. This new knowledge may influence the speaker's understanding of the bird's behavior, as they now question whether their previous assumptions about seagulls were accurate.
Seagulls lack the specialized feet adapted for gripping branches, making perching in trees awkward or difficult for them. Instead, they prefer open areas like ground, rocks, piers, roofs, and sometimes even boats where they can easily land and take off. This anatomical difference explains why seagulls are more commonly seen on flat or open surfaces rather than in trees.
The speaker was surprised to learn this fact, despite it being a part of their life for as long as they could remember. They spent a long time pondering if they had ever seen a seagull on a tree, only to find that their observations were contradicted by the seagulls sitting on bitts in harbors - smaller versions of trees.
The speaker concludes that it's probably true that seagulls cannot sit on trees. This realization adds to the idea that there are still things to learn, even about familiar creatures. The speaker compares this phase to being 16, but with justification - the sense of discovery and learning that comes with growing older.
In the end, these discoveries serve as a reminder that even the most familiar things can hold hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered. So, the next time you see a clock in an advertisement or a seagull in a harbor, take a moment to appreciate the little details that make up our world.
[1] Ornithology.com, "Seagull Behavior", https://www.ornithology.com/seagull-behavior/
[4] Birdwatchingdaily.com, "Seagull Feet", https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/bird-feet/seagull-feet/
The speaker's newfound realization about the clocks in advertisements and the seagulls' inability to sit on trees encourages them to reconsider their assumptions about their home-and-garden lifestyle, as there might be hidden details waiting to be discovered. This ongoing process of learning is comparable to exploring a home-and-garden magazine, where one can delve into lifestyle topics and gain fresh insights about familiar surroundings.
