Sea gull

Sea gulls were a mundane species of bird found in the Realms.

History
In the mid-14 century DR, a Cormyrean freesailor by the name of Dalvar Corzon worked to domesticate many of the sea gulls that inhabited the coast of Cormyr and carefully train them to carry messages, much like the carrier pigeons that were used in Waterdeep. He only had limited success in this endeavor, some of his sea gulls managed to deliver messages that proved critical to Cormyr's success during the Time of Troubles and the Horde War.

Sub-Species

 * Gullion: A species of seagull that had adapted to life in Wildspace.

Habitats
In North Faerûn these birds could be found around the city of Tantras, the city of Ravens Bluff, and Harrowdale's small set of islands the Shoulder. Though they were largely absent from Ravens Bluff's neighborhood Mortonbrace, due to the area's very territorial ravens.

In Northwest Faerûn they could be found around Waterdeep and often nested on a cliff they became the namesake of, Gull Leap. They were also prevalent around the coast of Cormyr.

In the Trackless Sea, these birds were prevalent on the Nelanther Isles. In the Sea of Fallen Stars, particularly large sea gulls could be found around the isle of Sumbar.

Beyond Faerûn, these birds could be found in the region of Kara-Tur around Paikai.

Beyond the Prime Material plane, sea gulls could be found in the Domains of Dread. Particularly in Draga Salt-Biter's domain of Saragoss. They could also be found in the plane of Acheron.

Relationships
Sea gulls were favored animals of the Untheric deity Ramman, as well as the Faerûnian powers Shaundakul and Valkur. The latter's specialty priests, stormharbors, often had a sea gull design embroidered on their outfits with gold thread in the belief that it would bring them good luck.

The inhabitants of the Paikai islands believed these birds to be representatives of the souls of the dead. They would hold an annual ceremony, called the Festival of Seagulls, in which they would leave out plates of raw meat for them.

In the Shutters, one of the neighborhoods of Ravens Bluff's Crow's End District, impoverished children would often try to kill any sea gulls that swooped down by throwing sticks and stones at them. They would then bring the bird back to their homes to be made into food.

Trivia

 * Any humanoid that sat on the magical granite throne inside Dangwaru could transform themselves into a sea gull for a period of eight hours.
 * The staff of birdcalls allowed its wielder to mimic the call of a seagull.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Dungeon #48, "The Oracle at Sumbar" • Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
 * Video Games
 * Neverwinter Nights: Pirates of the Sword Coast • Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms