Seabirds like seagulls refrain from perching on tree limbs
In the course of everyday life, we often encounter phenomena that we accept as common knowledge, only to find out later that they hold surprising secrets. Two such examples have recently caught the attention of our speaker: the behaviour of seagulls and the design of clocks in advertisements.
First, it is a common sight to see seagulls sitting on bitts in harbors. However, the fact that they cannot grip onto branches does not contradict this observation. Seagulls, as water-dwelling birds, have webbed feet designed for swimming and walking on flat surfaces, making it difficult for them to balance well on thin branches. As a result, seagulls can perch on trees but typically do not do so often or comfortably. Instead, they prefer flat surfaces such as rocks, piers, rooftops, sandy beaches, or other open areas near water.
On the other hand, birds like hawks and eagles perch comfortably on tree branches due to their strong talons and foot anatomy suited for grasping. For example, raptors often perch high on tree branches to scan for prey, but seagulls generally prefer more grounded or stable platforms close to water.
The realization that clocks in advertisements always show ten past ten is another unexpected discovery. This phenomenon is not widely known or discussed, but it is believed to make the advertisements appear smiling, as the two hands of the clock seem to be forming a 'smile' when the time is ten past ten.
These newfound insights serve as a reminder that even the most familiar aspects of our world can hold hidden secrets. The experience of being 16 is often compared to a later stage in life, but with justification. The speaker's experience with seagulls provides another example of something new and surprising in later life, highlighting the dynamic nature of life.
In conclusion, seagulls rarely perch on trees because their feet are not adapted for gripping branches. They typically perch on flat surfaces near water such as rocks, piers, roofs, or ground. Other birds like hawks and eagles perch on trees due to their anatomy suited to gripping branches. The realization about the clocks in advertisements is a specific example of something new and surprising in later life, adding to the ever-evolving tapestry of our understanding of the world.
[1] Birds of Prey: Anatomy and Adaptation for Flight and Hunting. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/animal/bird-of-prey [3] Seagulls: Behavior and Adaptation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.seagulls.org/behavior-and-adaptation/
Seagulls, while commonly seen on flat surfaces near water, do not prefer to perch on trees due to their webbed feet that are not adapted for gripping branches (follows from the text). Furthermore, an intriguing observation about advertisements is that they often depict clocks showing ten past ten, creating the illusion of a 'smiling' clock, which is a lesser-known aspect of design in home-and-garden (follows from the text and the connection between the advertisement's design and home-and-garden).
