Seagull saved after fall (From Falmouth Packet)

Seagull saved after fall

5:34pm Tuesday 30th June 2009

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A seagull chick has survived a dramatic 100ft fall from cliffs at Lusty Glaze Beach in Newquay, thanks to the quick-thinking actions of staff at The Adventure Centre.

The tiny bird fell from its nest and landed at the feet of surprised staff, who nursed the baby gull and removed it to a safe area for the night.

The next day maintenance man Ed Stanbury took it upon himself to play ‘Mum’. He set up a makeshift nest – a nice pad overlooking the deck and hot tub at Lusty’s beach house – and named him Sebastian. Then Ed started watering and feeding the bird with sea bass and tuna steak leftovers from Lusty Glaze Restaurant.

After a few days Sebastian’s real Mum started making flying visits to tend to her damaged offspring. Sometimes the mother delivered fresh fish she had caught at sea.

Ed said: “It’s now been two weeks and Sebastian has nearly doubled in size. We’re amazed that he survived and now seems to be thriving. The only problem is that the mother has become extremely over-protective.”

Technical Services manager Gary Saban has been dive-bombed several times when trying to deliver food and water and on one occasion the mother drew blood on the back of his head. Luckily Gary has decided to turn the other cheek and after cooling down promised only to shoot Sebastian with a camera, resulting in some amazing photos of mother and chick.

Ed added: “Seagulls have a bit of a bad reputation in Newquay. But this little fluff-ball has melted some hearts down here at Lusty. He’s a great little character and a born survivor.”

Should the seagull have been saved? What do you think?

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