Countdown to gull season begins: Two months to instigate control measures before eggs hatch

It would be entirely wrong to characterise gulls merely as pests. Rather, the problem lies in where they are choosing to nest

March heralds the official start of spring, but for many residents and businesses it also marks the start of what can amount to six months of disruption due to problem gulls. The breeding season has now begun as the birds return to their favoured nesting sites in the UK after wintering in southern Europe. Environmental Consultancy NBC Environment is urging organisations to take action before it is too late to stop the annual influx of gulls.

The population of gulls in the UK is increasing rapidly. Rooftop nesting has quadrupled over the past 15 years as birds bring the previous year’s offspring with them to the same sites and multi-generational colonies grow. Year on year, related issues* increase too as nesting colonies become established and the eggs hatch from late May onwards.

In February, issues around gulls were raised at Westminster for the first time since David Cameron called for a “big conversation” about gulls in 2015. MPs from communities across the UK including Plymouth, St. Ives, Cheltenham, St. Austell and Newquay, and Aberdeen, debated what measures could be taken to address the various problems that can occur when nesting sites are established alongside humans.

John Dickson, Managing Director of NBC Environment, says: “It is good to see the matter of gull management being addressed proactively, rather than waiting for the inevitable cycle of media scare-stories about gull attacks in the summer months. The majority of those taking part in the debate represented coastal areas. Notably Derek Thomas, MP for St. Ives, spoke to address the case of a teenager who narrowly avoided critical injury after falling off a sea wall during a gull mugging in July last year. As this high-profile incident goes to show, despite the lurid reporting, that it is just a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt.”

There’s no denying gull attacks, along with the noise and mess the birds create, are a very real concern for businesses and public sector organisations alike. Although there have been growing calls for a cull, all UK birds are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981**. NBC Environment advocates humane methods, such as the use of egg and nest removal and falconry to modify the birds’ behaviours. These non-lethal tactics are designed to encourage gulls to set up colonies in more appropriate habitats where they are less likely to come into conflict with humans.

John Dickson explains: “We work hard to balance commercial and public safety objectives with ecological responsibility. It would be entirely wrong to characterise gulls merely as pests. Rather, the problem lies in where they are choosing to nest. This impacts both the public and private sectors. Over and above the damage to property, organisations could potentially take the brunt of any litigation from anyone who suffers ill-health or injury on account of gulls, for example as a result of aggressive behaviour, or a slip on faeces.

“This doesn’t warrant a cull though. We need to remember that many species, including herring gulls, are in decline across Europe and we are bound by EU and international laws to protect them. Gull populations are on the rebound in the UK thanks to this forward-looking wildlife legislation and it makes no sense to reverse good conservation work. The fact MPs are now calling for an annual ‘seagull (sic) summit’ and a national study is very positive because it suggests they are looking for long term solutions instead of simply reacting to sensationalised stories.”

Eggs will start to hatch in May and June and once that happens the chicks are protected by environmental legislation. As such, there is still a window of opportunity to implement gull management initiatives that would, over time, discourage gulls from settling at particular sites. However, it is illegal to harm a wild bird or for tamper with its nest. Therefore, it is imperative that any activities must be completed by a licensed professional. For more information please see www.nbcenvironment.co.uk

Ends

- Notes to editors:

* A colony of gulls will remain at the nesting spot for around six months of the year and once in situ it’s very hard to remove or disperse them. A nesting site in close proximity to humans brings with it numerous hazards:

• Aggressive behaviour: gulls are confident and aggressive, especially during the breeding season. Motivated by food, they will regularly steal from people, causing fear and injury
• Damage: gull faeces builds up on roof areas and guttering, causing blockages and damage which can result in costly repairs
• Noise nuisance: as gull numbers increase and they compete with each other to feed their offspring, noise becomes a major problem for residents and workers
• Health: gull faeces can cause a number of serious diseases, presenting a real hazard to people living, working and holidaying in an area with a large gull population.
• Safety: As well as being unsightly, gull faeces is a serious slip hazard

**Wildlife and Country Act 1981, http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69

Press contact:

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About NBC Environment

NBC Environment is an independent environmental consultancy which provides practical commercial advice and services to the public and business sectors. Blackdown Environmental, a wholly-owned NBC Environment company, offers ecological consultancy and environmental contracting to support the rural economy.

NBC Environment provides strategic environmental planning and sustainable ecology, bird and pest solutions to customers in sectors such as facilities management, health and safety, construction and property management. Services are designed to remove risks of nature adversely impacting commercial activities by delivering business protection for every type of commercial activity.

The business was founded in 1993 and has grown to cover the whole of the UK. The team includes a country-wide network of trained, specialist falconry staff. NBC Environment strives to ensure its customers can achieve their commercial goals safe in the knowledge that conflict with nature has been managed considerately.