Gull Bullying: This Is No Laughing Matter

Laughing Gull
(minding his own business)

This past Saturday, during the Christmas Bird Count near Cocoa Beach, I witnessed a rare event of bird bullying.  Yes, a Laughing Gull was minding his own business, perched on top of his post, posing diligently for his photographs.  Then a Ring-Billed Gull, without provocation, bullied this poor, defenseless gull off his perch, forcing him to move about 3-5 feet over to the next post.  Now why couldn't the Ring-Billed Gull just land on that post?  Would it have killed him to fly 5 feet farther to not bother the Laughing Gull and my photo shoot?  How was this gull raised?  This just uncalled for behavior, and I have it documented in photos.

Ring-Billed Gull
(unprovoked, he forces the Laughing Gull to move)

I'm sorry you have to witness this

This Laughing Gull is not amused

Eventually, the Laughing Gull left in shame
the Ring-Billed Gull has quite a smug look about him if you ask me