Silk gulls are native to the Cyphrus coast and are a lovely pale blue color that causes them to disappear against the skyline when in flight. Silk gulls are large creatures that nest in singular huge colony above Plunge Pool Bay. This region, protected by the Akalak, has been turned into a park that is only occupied by the gulls during their breeding season. The birds gather together, pair up, and lay three eggs.
They then feed in the pelagic environment and incubate their eggs for a month. The chicks then remain on the cliffs of Riverfall until they have fledged. Since chick mortality is high, usually only one out of the three chicks survive because neighboring pairs will kill chicks that stray into their nesting areas once the chicks are up and wandering around.
Nests are made of moss and flotsam, soft and fluffy and large enough for the two birds to snuggle in side by side. The entire processes of mating, laying and fledging chicks has delighted the whole city of Riverfall and often people come to the Rookery with all its chaotic noise to watch the birds at work. Some of the weaker chicks, ones that obviously wont’ make it, are often taken as pets and raised among the children of Riverfall. And so it is that the Silk Gulls are highly regarded in Riverfall and tolerated when and where a lot of other birds would not be.
The Rookery is accessible by a series of stone stairways that lead to a long observation deck that lies in the middle of the Rookery itself. Gulls sometimes nest on the railing and benches so they need to be cleaned and gently discouraged away in the seasons they are nesting. When the gulls aren’t in residence, the Rookery is often the site of unusual events such as handfastings and small parties or picnics. Stone benches, though heavy, can be moved out of the way and rearranged on the landing to make room for whatever event is planned.
