We were waiting at a bus stop in Eastbourne, there were a few young herring gulls about, as they do wandering across the road, this is a bus and taxi only area.One particular young gull was happily exploring while his mother tried to get him off the road.a few bus drivers waited as he moved out of the way, but then one bus driver came round the corner, slowed a little he looked at the bird, waited a bit and I actually saw him shrug his shoulders and then drove forward, completely popping the bird into a mush on the road, and then proceeded to pull into the bus stop and get his news paper out.I was enraged and went over to his window and knocked on there saying I saw you blatantly run over that young seagull...now his response I can't type on a public forum, basically included f, c and w words abusive to me, its only a f'in seagull, told me to f off or would do the same to me if I didn't, f off...I haven't been able to remove this scene from my mind since it happened, I feel I should have rushed over and saved the gull...what should I have done ?
Unknown said: Hi CCC .. The same thing happened to me this morning while I was out with a friend . A van driver drove over a young gull but dident kill it out right but badly mangled the right wing. I ran up to the van at the lights he basicly said the same thing But dident expect me to open his door and drag him out. I still have a bit of a sore hand . But dont think he will ever run over another bird in the road . I cant abide folk like that . We took the gull to the PDSA which was just round the corner and the vet said there was nothing he could do for it. Which I knew but just wanted to make sure. It takes nothing to stop and move the bird off the road OK it may have wandered back on again but thats beside the point. There is no excuse for what he did (Mind you I maybe I could have handled it a tad better but I was real angry andnobody swears at me without me doing something about it) Cheers AL
Hi CCC .. The same thing happened to me this morning while I was out with a friend . A van driver drove over a young gull but dident kill it out right but badly mangled the right wing.
I ran up to the van at the lights he basicly said the same thing But dident expect me to open his door and drag him out. I still have a bit of a sore hand . But dont think he will ever run over another bird in the road . I cant abide folk like that .
We took the gull to the PDSA which was just round the corner and the vet said there was nothing he could do for it. Which I knew but just wanted to make sure.
It takes nothing to stop and move the bird off the road OK it may have wandered back on again but thats beside the point.
There is no excuse for what he did (Mind you I maybe I could have handled it a tad better but I was real angry andnobody swears at me without me doing something about it)
Cheers
AL
Oh AL.
I can't really say how wonderful of you as I wouldn't recommend thumping people but I can say I totally agree with you seeing red at that oaf. Not only did he critically injure the bird but there was no excuse swearing at you. I might have challenged him but if he swore at me I would have cried!!!
Big hug and a bandage for you
Pip xxxxxx
CaptainCalamityClam said: Thanks for all your advise and nice comments, will contact the Bus company see what they have to say. The problem is in these situations you are quite in a state of shock when something like this happens, it seems you do everything wrong, yet a while later you have all these idea's as to how I should have handled it. I was also amazed at how very few people reacted to the bus driving over the poor young seagull, the area was full of people after there days shopping, groups of teens, all types of people, hardly more than a couple of people noticed or even made a comment, this made me sad. I started to research the seagull protection from your comments LRB, and there is a local seagull rescue http://www.seagullrescue.co.uk I have contacted them also, but I was shocked to read the amount of shootings and also other incidents of seagulls being run over, what is going on in this world.
Thanks for all your advise and nice comments, will contact the Bus company see what they have to say.
The problem is in these situations you are quite in a state of shock when something like this happens, it seems you do everything wrong, yet a while later you have all these idea's as to how I should have handled it.
I was also amazed at how very few people reacted to the bus driving over the poor young seagull, the area was full of people after there days shopping, groups of teens, all types of people, hardly more than a couple of people noticed or even made a comment, this made me sad.
I started to research the seagull protection from your comments LRB, and there is a local seagull rescue
http://www.seagullrescue.co.uk
I have contacted them also, but I was shocked to read the amount of shootings and also other incidents of seagulls being run over, what is going on in this world.
Hi CCC
Sorry I missed this thread. I would like to add my disgust and suggest you take LRB's and the others' advice.
I hope you are over it now
Pipit x
Oh AL remind me never to get on the wrong side of a fiery Scotsman
. Although your reaction was understandable, he could have had you done for assault or worse attacked you and we couldn't bear to loose you from the forums.
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
I really hope this thread has helped you C and that you can now move on .
Eeh hey Al.
An optimist sees the beauty of the complete rose.A pessimist sees only the thorn .
Hi CCC - just wanted to add my sympathy too - what a dreadful thing, I'm not surprised you were so angry. There's absolutely no need for that sort of behaviour or language. I hope you do report him to at least the bus company if not the police.
Perhaps you could let us know the bus company so we can add our voices too!
Make the boy interested in natural history if you can; it is better than games [Robert Falcon Scott]
Hi CCC,
what a terrible thing to have witnessed (and to have happened in the first place). I completely agree with everyone else, you should complain - to whoever will listen! I would complain to the bus company, as Seymour says, the driver can and will be traced. And I would also go to the police...and probably the newspapers!
As well as being totally disgusting and unacceptable behaviour, its also illegal.
Do let us know what you decided to do.
Hope you're ok too :o)
Just seen this, what an appalling act of cruelty and so sorry you had to witness it. I can't add any further advice than has already been given, just wanted to send my commiserations to you.
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi CCC, Sorry, only just seen your post. What an appalling thing to witness and then to be verbally abused too! Poor you. Good luck with the bus company.
AL - foolhardy but well done anyway!
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/