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They'd just come mess up my "parking lot." Wouldn't steal them, just carry them away, drop them. Lost a couple of course but we also had a metal detector so it wasn't the end of the world. I think they just like shiny. I found out later in life they love beer bottle caps.

Well, who doesn't like Hot Wheels right? Must have actually been fun finding them again with a metal detector. Did you find anything else shiny while searching for the little trucks?

I'm going to have to get some little cars and try to see if I can evoke the same kind of inquisitive nature with other birds now, just for the sheer fuck of it.

This beach is in front of the cabin so there's not much to find. Very little human activity there aside from my family. Mainly used it to find the boat anchor and chain since it would always get covered in sand. Found a Bic lighter once! Still worked.

I think the seagulls get confused and associate shiny with minnows, thinking it's food. They're scavengers so they'll test everything.

Ah ok, well a Bic lighter is still a cool find 😁

Minnows - yes that makes sense, probably also why so many of them end up getting fish hooks in their beaks.