Media
Release
Let’s hear it for
gulls - 'Parents of the Year'
RSPB advice on urban
gulls
Herring gulls take parenting very
seriously – whether they are on an unpopulated coastal island or in a town or
city. Defending their nest and their young is part of their DNA. On
a coastal island, if a crow or a great black-backed gull tries to steal (and
eat) an egg or chick, it will be repelled with all the parent gull’s strength
and other gulls will come to assist. It is no different in towns and
cities. If the gulls believe their eggs or young are in danger, they
understandably become very protective and can be aggressive in defence of their
young.
Tony Whitehead, speaking for the RSPB
in the South West said, "However, if you, your loved one, or pet experience this
type of gull behaviour it can be a very frightening experience. And you
don’t much care if the gull’s motives are actually honourable because they are
protecting their young."
Gulls are a natural part of our
country’s wildlife and have always been a feature of coastal towns and
villages. But while gull populations along the coast are declining,
numbers of gulls nesting in some towns and cities are increasing. The
reasons are complicated.
It's only since the 1940s that
household waste previously composted at home ended up at landfill. The
Clean Air Act stopped it being burnt. This easily available food waste in
landfill coincided with a decrease in the gull's natural marine food.
Gulls are clever, adaptable, opportunistic birds. Some moved from natural sites,
taking advantage of nesting sites near bountiful landfills, predator and
disturbance-free urban rooftops with the added bonus of discarded food on
streets and, from the 1970s, plentiful thin bin-bags easily accessible to gulls
and other wildlife.
Peter Rock, who has been studying
urban gulls for over 30 years, said, “Nowadays we have two populations; those
breeding in the wild and those breeding in town. It is very rare for town gulls
to breed in the wild and vice versa.”
Mr Whitehead added, "Urban gulls have
no way of knowing that they are nesting on our house or close to where we walk
to the shops, school or work. As far as they are concerned, they have
found a high site that is safe from predators with a good food supply in easy
flying distance so set about the business of rearing young. Gulls nesting
on roofs can present problems. Some Councils advise that deterrents may
work but, as with all contractors, it’s always best to do some homework.
And of course, a deterrent on your own roof doesn’t prevent the birds nesting
next door! Also, if the person installing a deterrent has little or no
knowledge of gull behaviour you may find that the gulls are nesting quite
happily between the spikes or getting trapped in wire or netting and you have a
welfare issue on your hands.
"Parent gulls have a real issue with
personal space and this is at its highest when a young gull is learning to
fly. Young gulls often have trouble mastering the art of flying.
They have to practise and many get it horribly wrong and land on the ground or
get themselves trapped or injured. This is when the parent gull swings
into full protective mode. If the gull believes you are too close to its
youngster and therefore could easily harm it, it will fly over you at great
speed - alarmingly close but rarely making contact the first time. This is
akin to a ‘warning shot over the bows’. They are large birds and this
often seems like a full blown attack. It is meant to frighten and warn you
off. If that doesn’t work, the gull will then let you know it means
business. They are big, bulky birds so the impact is not easily
forgotten. If you have an anxious gull parent to contend with, the best
advice is to walk with an umbrella up.
"Gulls should never be fed either
intentionally or unintentionally, particularly in your garden. They are
expert scavengers. Feeding them or discarding food reinforces their belief
that all humans provide an ‘easy food source’ and reduces their natural wariness
of humans. How is a gull supposed to distinguish between food offered or
intentionally discarded and someone enjoying their own lunch with no thought (or
intention) of sharing it? Some gulls are so skilled that the unexpected
theft happens with such stealth that Oliver Twist's Fagin would have been
impressed. Others seem to resort to schoolboy bullying so don't bother
with stealth and may accidently knock you."
The RSPB welcomes the fact that many
Councils and Authorities are working together sharing knowledge, recognising
there is no simple solution to the problems that urban gulls can cause – and
local authorities can play an important role in supporting research into urban
gull populations [Note 2].
The RSPB believe that gull problems in
an urban environment are best tackled by managing the availability of food and
nest sites because, if the features that attract gulls remain, any `vacancies’
created by controlling existing gulls will simply be filled by other gulls
moving in. They recommend action by local authorities and individuals in
urban areas, including:
·
reducing the amount of food waste sent
to landfill
·
not putting rubbish out until the day
of collection
·
putting food waste out in gull-proof
containers
·
reducing the amount of `edible litter’
on streets, particularly arising from fast food outlets
·
providing `gull-proof’ public litter
bins
·
strongly discouraging people feeding
gulls
All wild birds are protected by law
(the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended). It is illegal, with
certain exceptions for some species, to kill, injure or take a wild bird, or to
destroy its nest (whilst in use or being built), eggs or chicks. All
enquiries on legal, lethal control and licences should be addressed to Natural
England, the statutory agency that advises on wildlife management issues.
Anyone taking action under a general licence should of course ensure they are
meeting all legal requirements. [Note Three].
Ends
For further
information and to arrange an interview, please
contact:
Tony Whitehead, RSPB Press Officer,
01392 453754, 07872 414365
Photographs:
Hi res Images to support
this story are available on request.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. The RSPB 'Briefing statement on urban
gulls for local authorities and the public ' is attached.
2. Councils that give advice
include:
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Cheltenham Borough Council
South Gloucestershire Council
East Devon District Council
Cornwall Council
Weymouth & Portland Borough Council
3. There is more specific detail on gulls
and the law here http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/unwantedvisitors/gulls/thelaw.aspx
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