Jonathan Livingston Seagull lived among other seagulls, all nearly exactly the same in size, shape and coloring. Due to an obsession with flight, he spent most of his time exercising, neglected eating and died early in his life. His flock mourned him briefly, but were secretly relieved that they no longer had to worry about feeding one of their own. Speculation among the seagulls suggests his parents may have fed him too well for too long, and he never really learned to become a self-sufficient bird.