A family of seagulls has taken up temporary residence on the pilings next to the Edmonds ferry terminal passenger loading ramp, and the babies have been drawing lots of attention from ferry passengers boarding and disembarking the boat.

“The little guys are just three weeks old now, and they’re really getting big,” said Bob, a 10-year veteran of the Washington State Ferry System, who operates the passenger ramp. Bob (who asked that his last name not be used) has been watching the gull family since before the chicks hatched.

“The parents are very protective,” he added. “Usually there’s lots of gulls around here, but as soon as the eggs were laid the parents began chasing the other gulls off.”

Now that the three chicks have hatched and had the chance to grow a bit, they and the parents have become an Edmonds kind of family.

“The father and mother take turns going out to fish for the chicks,” said Bob. “He’s no absentee dad, I can tell you that!”

According to Bob, the best time to see the chicks is at the cooler times of day in the morning or evening. “When it’s hot they tend to hide behind the pilings in the shade.”

To observe our newest gull-friends, walk on the ferry at the Edmonds terminal and look to your right as you step out onto the ramp to the boat deck. But you’d better hurry…they’re already three weeks old, and will be flying in another two to three weeks.

— Story and photos by Larry Vogel