Rockport Texas - The History, Legends & Lore 1st Printing | Page 81

SEAGULL (sp. Larus atricilla) The Laughing Seagull, as it is known for the sound it makes, is a year-round redsident in our area. Though they are Seabirds, they’re not afraid to fly as far as 25 miles inland if they feel like it. They might not be the most wonderful creatures to have hovering over your house all of the time, but honestly, it would be hard to imagine Rockport without them. LORE: It is the only Seagull that is known to breed regularly in Texas. TURKEY BUZZARD (sp. Cathartes aura) Also called a Turkey Vulture, they range from Canada to South America. Our Turkey Buzzards are always on the prowl for dead and dying animals of any sort. One might think of them as the the Local Clean Up Crew. In these parts, they love flocking on our tall Radio Antennas, where you can see them roosting by the hundreds. LORE: They’re no relation to the Old World Vultures. Biologists toss up any resemblences to ‘Convergent Evolution’. 80