Migrating gulls flock to Upper Valley

They’re definitely not from around here, but you can see hundreds of seagulls in parts of the Upper Valley this time of year.

“It’s amazing. There’s so many of them,” said Diana Sangare, visiting the area near Keystone Heritage Park in the afternoon to see the gulls. “They’re so beautiful. And it’s like you’re covered with a blanket of these beautiful birds. It’s really phenomenal. I’m really glad we came out.”

Hundreds of seagulls flock to the wetlands just off Doniphan each afternoon. They come due in part to the efforts of wildlife rehabilitator Carol Miller who lives nearby. She’s been feeding the more common birds out there for years.

So where do all these feathered visitors come from?

“These birds come down from Canada,” Miller said while feeding the flock. “And they found out that we bring food over here for the birds and they started coming. We feed the other birds too, the doves, sparrows. And the seagulls, the word got out that there would be food here. So they come now also. Between Thanksgiving and Valentines Day. Then they’ll go back to the lakes in Canada.”

Miller puts out day old bread and food from area restaurants each day around 3 p.m. That draws the gulls that don’t actually live by the sea during this season.

It’s a sight and sound to behold and it leaves visitors impressed, and some like Dee Greene and his daughter Diana wanting to help out.

“I asked her (Miller) if I could donate $75 dollars to help buy food,” Greene said. “But I enjoy it”

“That’s my dad,” Sangare said. “He loves animals. But I’ll definitely be back to see it. It’s really spectacular.”