The gulls appeared on the Island during what Claire believed to be a migration. She wanted to catch one after noting that they were banded. Desmond believed Charlie would die if he attempted to catch a gull. Desmond convinced Charlie not to help, and then thwarted Claire's attempts to catch one with Jin and Sun. Soon after, Desmond retrieved a gull by himself for Claire. Claire wrote a message which she and Charlie attached to the captured gull. They set it free, hoping the message would be found by the outside world. ("Par Avion")