How can we justify the protection of this species where/when they nest 'too close' to an urban population for their own security?
'OK'! I blame the fisheries (fishermen) for leading herring gulls to our ports and land regions, but the fact that we protect this species means that we also 'protect' the 'species' without condition.
I'm currently faced with a ground 'nest' at my front door. That's OK in that I don't need to use this means of transit as I have a 'side door' that I can use. However, that ingress/exit takes me within 4ft of the ground nest which also invokes an 'aggressive attitude' from the 'parenting/nesting couple' for this ground-space. I avoid this 'agression' by feeding the couple with an acceptable form of food (white fish) at an optimal time during their occupation. I should 'not' need to do this to safely enter/exit my home! These raptors can inflict injury that may induce a bacterial/viral infection where/when a 'broken skin' scenario evolves from a confrontational encounter, so how are they not 'vermin' in this scenario?
That said, this nesting couple isn't likely to be sucsesful in their endeavour to procreate due to the local population of urban fox.
How can anyone manage this scenario without the implication of the £2,000 fine for nesting disruption, or the added cost/inconvenience of cohabitation with this species. Many of us can't afford to 'live' with this 'inconvenience'.
Kind regards, Ray.
DartRay you have lost me with the categorising of responses I hsve been using the forum for donkeys years and have missed that along the way
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
No not irony I had not realised that there was a different reaction to the reply buttons I have not been paying as much attention as maybe I should. I agree that the site can be confusing to say the least but having used it for a long time I just accept that is how it is
Thanks. I might of commented before Komodo said about the admins im not sure. but I know I didn’t see Komodos comments about the admins before I commented.
Gulls love the canal, Gloucester city, and Western supermare I see them very often. Iv found there’s even more at Gloucester city at the docks and Western supermare beach than the canal. the flocks can be massive at Gloucester city and western super mare in comparison . At the canal I see Herring gulls and black backed gulls during Spring and summer but at that part of Gloucester and Sharpness canal during the Autumn I only see Black headed gulls. and it’s the same gulls every year.
A sub urb is a mixture of urban and non urban habitat. A mixture of urban and rural. a place that’s comsidered just urban is a place that is just urban. Just lots of shops and buildings and no rural habitat. As for the village I’m in , The village I’m in is considered a sub urb rather than only urban or non urban.
But Im only an hour away from western supermare which is near the Severn eastuary and Bristol Channel. However I most often visit the south coast or the coast in Cornwall and I used to go to the beach every year cause I love the beach so I’m very familiar with beaches and gulls. The issue with feeding occurs both on the beach. In sub urbs and urban areas too. However I find the problem is more obvious on beaches exspeacialy ones near urban areas.
for forests. When I go to the Forest of Dean In the Forest of Dean I see no gulls at all. why they is I don’t know but possibly cause there isn’t really lots of food shops at all jand people are disencouraged from feeding the Wildlife at there cabins. The most abundant species Iv noticed is gray Squirrels. And that’s why they discourage feeding.
The fact I never see herring gulls at the canal during autumn and only black headed gulls is curious but it could be cause of the time of year and that there not breeding anymore. or that food is more abundant elsewhere for the herring gulls at that time of year
when I went to the south coast during autumn this year I saw both herring gulls and black headed gulls. Perhaps there’s more food at sea than on land for herring gulls during Autumn and more food on land during spring and summer cause of more people visiting the beach who knows.
As for the suggestions I made they were way that I think maybe might help disencourage from associateing people on beaches with food and decrease the frequency of stolen food. And deter them from the cafes near beaches. Obviously for them to unlearn the association of people with food that would take a very long time like Tuwit said. There not the only idea but there’s probably a lot more people havnt thought of yet.