The many homes and adventures of the rare tarāpuka gulls

13 Feb, 2019 2:35pm

Endangered seagulls find a Sikh guardian in Hastings. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

By: Patrick O'Sullivan

A well-meaning Hastings takeaways operator has unwittingly lured a rare breed of feathered friends well out of their safety zone.

Every morning Talwinder Singh Kular has been getting a very special welcome from his own flock of seagulls.

Each day, he's been cooking a scoop of chips and leaving it overnight to cool for his winged patrons.

He said the gulls took over the feeding ground after he started putting food out for sparrows.

But Singh's neighbours, such as Kris Bristow, were not so impressed with the seagulls.

"They park on top of the buildings waiting," the frustrated business and building owner said.

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