Seabirds even play a role in Greek Mythology….
In Greek mythology, Daedalus made wings for himself and his young son Icarus to escape from where they were imprisoned in Crete. He tied feathers together, and secured the feathers at their midpoints with string and at their bases with wax. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high, because the heat of the sun would melt the wax, nor too low, because the sea would soak the feathers. They flew successfully, but Icarus forgot his father’s warning, and flew too close to the sun. The blazing sun softened the wax holding feathers together and they came off. Icarus fell into the sea and drowned.
Daedauls and Icarus. copyright katinthecupboard, via Creative Commons.