Pics: Seagull perches near Vatican chimney, becomes Twitter superstar

As the world awaits the white smoke signaling the selection of the next pope, an unlikely superstar emerged: an insouciant seagull.

THERE'S A SEAGULL ON THE CHIMNEY AT THE VATICAN pic.twitter.com/QEQkoHNtKJ

— Michael Roston (@michaelroston) March 13, 2013

The seagull has landed #conclave #chimneywatch2013 pic.twitter.com/ZEVn6csyud

— Relevant Radio (@relevantradio) March 13, 2013

A seagull just landed on a Sistine Chapel chimney. pic.twitter.com/jZ4h51syk6

— Tomas Etzler (@tvtomas) March 13, 2013

A seagull takes up residence on the Sistine chapel chimney… What can this mean? #vaticanTODAY #NBCPope @to… http://t.co/joOMyaMMce

— Keir Simmons (@KeirSimmons) March 13, 2013

Loving the publicity seeking gull sitting on top of the Sistine Chapel chimney. Who's doing his PR? Genius #conclave

— Jon Sopel (@BBCJonSopel) March 13, 2013

There's a seagull sitting on the Sistine Chapel chimney right now. Does this mean things are "terning" around inside?

— John LeGloahec (@legloaj) March 13, 2013

Groan.

Has anyone started a @Twitter account for the seagull hanging out at the Sistine Chapel chimney? #pope #Vatican #conclave

— Eric Carvin (@EricCarvin) March 13, 2013

Naturally, the seagull quickly spawned accounts dedicated to chronicling his flight to fame. Introducing @SistineSeagull and @PapalSeagull:

Hanging out on the Sistine Chapel Chimney, livetweeting #conclave #newpope

— SistineSeagull (@SistineSeagull) March 13, 2013

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I'm not sponsored by Frito-Lay. Seagulls just LOVE Cheetos. #conclave

— SistineSeagull (@SistineSeagull) March 13, 2013

Sit on a million chimneys in my life, and today I'm famous because I sat on the world's most famous chimney #papalseagull #SistineChapel

— Papal Seagull (@PapalSeagull) March 13, 2013

White smoke means there's a pope, black smoke means no pope. A seagull means I confused the hell out of y'all. Boo-ya! #PapalSeagull

— Papal Seagull (@PapalSeagull) March 13, 2013

Reaction from the @ConclaveChimney:

BACK!!! BACK YOU SEAGULL FIEND!! pic.twitter.com/aliToPL7nG

— Conclave Chimney (@ConclaveChimney) March 13, 2013

Update:

The groaners continue:

A Holy See gul on top the Sistine chimney http://t.co/J3i8g0FvV5

— Norah O'Donnell?? (@NorahODonnell) March 13, 2013