Birds
I watched a seagull attack a man this morning. This rogue seagull came out of nowhere and flapped its wings in the man's face. I was more than 40 paces behind him but I could see what was going on. After the initial flap more birds came over to attempt to quell the frustrated shit heel bird. But the bird squawked and made darting motions towards his comrades. And back he went to hassle the man. This time the bird flew over the man's head and clipped the man with it's feet. The man fell. I chuckled.
Other birds now came to pick on the man. They circled him and puffed their wings while not in flight. They expanded themselves as if they were a cobra. This was a sight I had never seen. The man took his book bag and swung it around him like an enclosed soldier would swing his sword or axe when surrounded. The birds fluttered back and then closed. They fluttered back and closed for another 10 steps until the man took off running. He was sprinting down the harbor sidewalk and the birds followed him until he had reached the street.
I haven't been so puzzled and yet horribly amused in a long time.
As I walked behind in his footsteps I moved swiftly and without eye contact. Seagulls for some reason love to stare at you. When I walk by in the morning they will actually turn their head and follow you. But, this morning there would be no eyeballing between these only-for-a-moment birds of prey and myself. I did make a fake kick at one just to let them know I meant business.
