The iconic Twin Ports seagulls of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, remind me of a colony of ants or bees — best considered a single organism rather than as a multitude of individuals. This mass of scavenging port birds have entered into a symbiotic relationship with the french fry dispensing tourists at the Head of the Lakes. The birds get fed. The people get to hang out with giant white rats that can fly, which is kind of cool until you are about 18 years old, have an open sore, and/or find yourself in a high risk pregnancy.
Nevertheless, John Myers of the Duluth News Tribune reports that an usual health problem is beginning to afflict Twin Ports seagulls: vitamin deficiency. Birds too weak to walk or fly are responding positively to Vitamin B1 shots.
This has apparently happened before in Europe. One of the causes of the listless bird syndrome is a shortage of thiamine. A recent study has shown that certain species of Lake Superior fish are becoming thiamine deficient, which means that the birds that prey on them might also be feeling the effects.
Geez, makes me feel bad for how mean I was about seagulls in my introduction. I mean, after all they are majestic water birds capable of [SPLAT] … awwwww, what IS that? Oh, he didn’t. NO HE DIDN’T! This shirt was new. D’aaaa, now it’s on my skin. Blech.
B1 and thiamine? I always thought they were vitamin C gulls.