Seagulls’ simplicity and single-mindedness lays bare the basic necessities of their lives, their groundhog day existence: eat, mingle, survive, forage, fly together, chase shrimp boats, sleep, make raucous noises—and repeat.

I spent about ten minutes photographing our Inverness seagull, who I named Nessie (wouldn’t you?), and this was truly a microjoy.

A brown pelican dictates a conservation haiku.