Birds were important to the ancient Romans and anyone who lives in modern Rome for a bit of time will figure out why–they’re everywhere. In antiquity, a kind of priests called augurs observed the flight patterns of birds. On the basis of what they saw, they divined the will of the gods.
We can’t claim that we’re in possession of the same gifts as ancient augurs but we’ve been watching the birds lately anyway. The starlings of late autumn have moved on, perhaps in search of a drier climate, as Rome has had 17 days of rain in January thus far.
But those noisy, messy, and stunningly beautiful starlings have been replaced by an influx of giant seagulls that spend their time swooping across the river and perching outside the innumerable fish markets in the city. We love to see them in Rome’s dense urban environment, sitting on cars outside this pescheria or that one, hoping the proprieter will throw them a clam or a calamari. Their wishes are often granted.
On this photo Friday, Susan Sanders documents the seagulls that are regular patrons of the Pescheria di Danilo on Via Natale del Grande. On Tuesdays and Fridays, when the fish is the freshest, they perch atop nearby cars hoping that Danilo will toss a savory seafood snack in their direction.
For more photos by Susan Sanders, see her blog: Rome with a View.
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