LONELY OLD MAN KEPT COMPANY BY SEAGULL HE MAIMED FOR 11 YEARS

LONELY OLD MAN KEPT COMPANY BY SEAGULL HE MAIMED FOR 11 YEARS

A lonely pensioner has been kept company for the past 11 years by regular visits – from a one-legged SEAGULL.

Enrico Connor, 75, has spent every day for the past decade feeding ‘Jonathan’ the seagull who comes to his window like clockwork twice a day.

The bird first landed at his kitchen window in May 2005, kicking off the friendship, which has continued even though Enrico accidentally maimed the poor bird.

Enrico, of Dover, Kent, said: “From that day onwards, Jonathan has come to my windowsill and visited me almost ritually at the same time every day.

“I was so pleased for the company that I began to look forward to his arrival and fed him scraps of food.”

But tragedy struck around a year after their friendship began when scaffolding was erected around his home and Jonathan got his right foot trapped between two planks.

Retired Enrico said: “As he tried to prise it clear, his leg broke – I almost cried when it happened.

“After this event, there was no sign of Jonathan for some days when he again landed on my windowsill – struggling on only one leg.

“Ever since then, either out of pity or because of a sense guilt I began to feed him regularly.”

Enrico, a dad of two girls aged 20 and 18, has lived alone for 12 years after separating from his wife.

He worked as a technical author for Nokia before retiring.

He added: “Jonathan is quite distinguishable from other seagulls because of his missing leg, whist Mrs Jonathan can be recognised by an extra small pupil in the left eye.

“My relationship with the Jonathans has continued for several years and, on occasions, they come accompanied by their newest chick.

“It’s almost a proud moment for me when that happens for the first time.

“So, if you see a one-legged seagull, please spare a thought for the old man sitting by his kitchen window waiting for a visit from his friend – Jonathan.”

Enrico is campaigning against a new rule that could ban people feeding seagulls in the seaside town after a bird landed on the head of a Dover grandmother.

He said: “There shouldn’t be a ban on feeding seagulls.

“They are part and parcel of a seaside town.”

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