Oystercatcher Challenges a Gull

Gulls are a problem for many shorebirds. While living among gulls can provide benefits such as warding off would-be predators, gulls also steal food, kill chicks and occasionally prey on other shorebirds. Simply put, gulls can be a real nuisance, but one bird has had enough.

A black oystercatcher looks on from a short distance as an adult western gull feeds on a cluster of mussels that washed up on the beach. The oystercatcher was the first bird to reach the mussels and was feeding until the gull chased it away. There isn’t much the oystercatcher can do in that situation. It has a significant size disadvantage and doesn’t have a bill, or a set of talons suited for battle against a fully grown western gull.

However, this oystercatcher was not to be deterred. With its gaze fixed firmly upon the gull, a posture that was held for about 10 seconds, one could sense the oystercatcher’s building frustration. Of course, the gull, busy feeding on the mussel cluster, never noticed.

Black oystercatcher on a beach with green stands of seaweed and its head held low, but looking forward. — Black oystercatcher in a stalking posture before launching an attack

The black oystercatcher lowered its head and crept toward the gull as if it were a lion stalking prey. An attack was imminent. Much like an Olympic long jumper, the bird erupted into a sprint and launched itself into the air. As the smaller bird charged toward the gull, there was a sense of momentum, a sense that an injustice was about to be righted, a sense that good would overcome evil and then…

Black oystercatcher on a beach with green stands of seaweed starts a sprint toward an unseen gull — Black oystercatcher charges toward an unsuspecting gull

No, that momentum came to an abrupt and inglorious halt. The gull, surprised and perhaps perturbed, easily rebuffed the charge. The much smaller black oystercatcher returned to the spot where it had started its attack and watched as the gull continued to feed on the stolen meal. Justice wasn’t served, and a gallant move to challenge the bully went unrewarded, proving once again how unfair real life can be.

Western gull on the beach vocalizes to drive away a black oyster catcher — Western Gull rebuffs charging black oyster catcher

Until…

The gull, maybe because it had eaten enough or maybe because it found the constant stare from the oystercatcher unsettling, just left, leaving the remaining mussels to the one bird that stood up to the bully.