Opinion divided on how to tackle Inverness gull 'menace'

Written by Calum Macleod

TIDY streets could be a more effective deterrent to Inverness’s seagull menace than culling, according to the RSPB.

The suggestion comes in response to a call for a limited cull by city businessman Charlie Barbour.

Mr Barbour, who owns city centre bars The White House and The Dog House as well as commercial property agency Barbour Commercial, suggests that destroying a small number of nesting pairs would make the centre of Inverness more attractive, safer and quieter.

Describing the birds as “noisy, dirty, aggressive” and a blight on the city centre, Mr Barbour questions whether the Inverness Business Improvement District (BID) policy of removing eggs each year is enough to permanently reduce the gull population.

“Whilst a cull of such birds is not a universally popular decision, I just wonder if there is merit in destroying say three or four nesting pairs of seagulls each year,” he writes.

“A reduction in seagull numbers would improve the city centre experience for visitors and that surely has to be a good thing?”

However, a spokeswoman for conservation charity the RSPB said that lethal control should only ever be a last resort, used only where there is a proven problem and other alternatives have proven ineffective. Instead, local authorities, businesses and individuals should tackle the problem by reducing the birds’ food supply by cutting down the amount of edible litter and introducing gull-proof litter bins.

Other non-lethal options include putting up physical barriers such as netting  on roofs as a deterrent before the breeding season.

“We believe that gull problems in an urban environment are best tackled by reducing the availability of food and nest sites. If the features that attract gulls remain, any `vacancies’ created by controlling existing gulls will simply be filled by other gulls moving in,” she said.

Source

Experts left baffled by blue gull found dead in Inverness

November 4, 2016, 2:37 pm

A blue-coloured gull found dead near Inverness has left experts searching for an explanation.

Wildlife enthusiast David Lynch came across the bird on the shore of the Beauly Firth near Clachnaharry on Sunday.

He shared a picture of the gull on Facebook along with an appeal for ideas on what may have caused its feathers to turn blue.

But so far no one has been able to find an explanation and even the RSPB have branded the death a “mystery”.

David, who is Highland coordinator for Eco Church Scotland, believes the bird may have come into contact with a poisonous chemical or been intentionally dyed by someone looking to track its movements.

He said: “I had just gone out for a walk and I was watching out for any birds on the path. That’s when I noticed that a gull had washed up on the shore and that its feathers appeared to be very blue.

“I wasn’t aware of any blue tinged gulls in the area so I took the picture and thought I would read up on it.

“I spoke to a friend who used to be a ranger in the Highlands and he told me about schemes in America where gulls are dyed to help mark their flight patterns.



Continued

Gull found in Scotland shot with crossbow

INVERNESS, Scotland, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- A kittiwake gull found in Inverness shot with a crossbow was so badly injured it had to be put down, Scottish animal welfare officials said Monday.

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals asked any witnesses to come forward, The Scotsman reported. The bird was the second gull to be shot with a crossbow this year.

Iain Allan, a chief inspector for the SSPCA, said the bird appeared to have been shot in the chest at close range.

"This was a sickening incident which would have caused this bird a great deal of pain and suffering," he said. "We can't be sure where the attack took place as it's likely the gull was still able to fly after being shot."

The bird was discovered Thursday.

In February, a herring gull was found shot in the neck. Like the one found last week it was so badly hurt it was put down.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2013/08/27/Gull-found-in-Scotland-shot-with-crossbow/UPI-26411377580860/#ixzz2dG37zVtV

Owl attack terror in Inverness - via Lindsay Selby

By Jenna Conti

A MAN was rushed to Raigmore Hospital after he was left bleeding from the back of his head following a bizarre attack involving an owl.

The incident took place in a built up area of Inverness near to the city centre.

John Mackay (58) was taken by surprise when he claims the large bird of prey, believed to be an Eagle Owl, knocked him to the ground and attacked the back of his head on Saturday evening.

The incident happened just outside the Masonic Club on Gordon Terrace in Inverness at around 9.15pm.

If you have seen the owl in our around Inverness city centre or in a built up area contact the Highland News on 01463 732230 or emailnewsdesk@highland-news.co.uk

For the full story, see this week’s Highland News.

http://www.highland-news.co.uk/News/Owl-attack-terror-in-Inverness-24012013.htm

Rare Slavonian grebe found dead in Inverness came from Iceland

"Dead duck" turns out be a scarce visitor from Iceland

January 2013. Local RSPB staff have collected a rare Slavonian grebe which was found dead in Inverness town centre. The bird is believed to have collided with an overhead wire. RSPB conservation manager Stuart Benn said, "We received a call from a traffic warden who said that he had found a dead duck in the town. His attention had been attracted by a ring that was present on the bird's leg. When we arrived we discovered that the bird was, in fact, a Slavonian grebe, a very rare breeding bird in Scotland. However when we checked the ring we found that the bird had been ringed in Iceland.

"This is an interesting discovery as it confirms that some birds from the Icelandic population spend the winter in Scottish waters and that the Moray Firth is important for these grebes as they are for many other species of marine birds."

Found in town centre
The bird was found by the River Ness near the pedestrian bridge that links Kenneth Street to the town centre. Mr Benn said, "Judging by its injuries I suspect the grebe must have flown into an overhead wire or cable. They are beautiful birds and it is very sad to see it in this state."

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/slavonian-grebe-iceland.html

Inverness man facing bird egg allegations

A man has gone on trial at Inverness Sheriff Court accused of illegally possessing 338 birds' eggs, including those of rare species.

Keith Liddell, 51, of Inverness, faces 16 charges alleging he broke laws protecting wildlife. He denies the charges.

The trial heard from a police officer who searched a house in Durham that contained thousands of eggs.

In the house were also boxes labelled K Liddell and with an Inverness postcode.

Thirteen of the 16 charges - which cover August 2004 to June 2009 - relate to allegations that Mr Liddell was involved in the illegal trade of birds' eggs.

Two other charges claim that he unlawfully possessed 338 eggs including those of osprey, peregrine falcon, black-throated diver, Slavonian and black-necked grebes.

The remaining charge relates to an allegation that he had a range of items for keeping and trading eggs.

Mr Liddell denies the charges.

The trial before Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood continues.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-20047870