It’s that time of year – especially for those of us in coastal communities – where some of our neighbours tend to enjoy a few more parties than usual, often spilling out onto the street for a fight or in search of food. We’re talking of course about urban gulls.
We’re often asked why gulls seem particularly rowdy around this time. There are several possible explanations. For starters, many of this year’s chicks will have grown to a point where they’re actively begging for food from their parents, who in turn compete with other birds to bring in as much as possible. Moreover, a lot of young birds will recently have moved out of their nest. So instead of being contained within a small patch, the noise and activity will be spread around a larger area.
This contribution to Aberdeen's Nuart project highlights the city's connection with gulls. Image credit: Kirsty Nutt
Herring gulls are often held up as the ultimate villain when it comes to chip-stealing and generally being a nuisance, however their story is actually one of tragedy. Since 1970, their UK population has declined by over 60%. So if you think there are a lot on your promenade now, just imagine how many have been lost from their natural habitat over the years. Sadly, it’s a similar story across the board, with 23 of Scotland’s 24 seabird species now on the Red or Amber List, indicating that they are among our most threatened wildlife.
Now of course it can be frustrating to find droppings on your car or be woken by a couple of birds arguing over a sachet of tomato ketchup. But then imagine how frustrating it would be if you came home one day to find your cupboards and fridge completely empty, or that someone had stolen all your windows, exposing you to the elements, or that your house wasn’t there at all!
Unfortunately, that is the reality for many of our seabirds. While there are still unanswered questions around gull declines, human-driven activities such as new developments, overfishing and climate change have all had a negative impact on our seabirds at large. Given the plentiful nesting space and feeding opportunities of the city - as well as a lack of predators - it's no surprise that so many are drawn into urban environments.
Herring gulls are one of the more common species found in towns and cities. Image credit: Grahame Madge
Fortunately, there are ways we can try to solve these problems for human and bird alike. Here are a few tips to help you co-exist with urban gulls.
In light of recent reports, we also want to stress that droppings from gulls or any other seabirds are NOT a driver of marine pollution. We should avoid feeding them, but for the reasons outlined above. These birds have been living on and by the sea for hundreds of thousands of years and play a key role in the marine ecosystem (as do their droppings).
We believe the answer to gulls moving into ‘our’ territory isn’t to get rid of the gulls, it’s to remove temptation and ensure that they have their own healthy, thriving habitats. Achieving that won’t be an easy task and will require the efforts of local and national governments, as well as us all doing our bit.
On top of everything else, the ongoing issue of Avian Influenza has shown how quickly vulnerable populations can be driven into even deeper trouble. So at a time when nature is facing more challenges than ever before, helping out a little is the least we can do, for all our sakes.
Header image credit: Ben Andrew
Indeed. In the New naturalist book on gulls (published 2019), the author, John C. Coulson, questions this supposed decline in gulls in the Uk at least. Also, here, there is no mention in the article or comments of the decline of breeeding gulls in the uplands and on some coastal cliff sites. Apparently much of this was due to human persecution, changes in farming practice and (at the time,) legal egg collecting for subsistance and sale. In recent times some of that may have been compensated for by the creation of new breeding sites where sand extraction works etc have been turned into nature reserves. Plus, counting urban breeding gulls is notoriously difficult.
Herring gulls are beautiful birds. There should be areas where they can be fed to stop the decline, and they would not have to be aggressive towards people. One stole my ice cream a few years ago, but I did not begrudge him. They have to eat, they should be protected. Surely it is ones human right to feed the birds. The was a very sad case a few years ago where a gull took a small dog from a garden. If the gull had been fed and not desperate for food the poor little dog would not have been taken.
I heard of attacks by heron gulls along coastal site, but I never experienced one until July in Scarborough. Many a time, my partner enjoyed fish and chips on a bench or table. This year, I watch one gull atop a light post watching people que up to order. It squawked as if to call in the troops. We sat down across from the take out (already having to thwart off several of these aggressive birds on the counters). Suddenly, from nowhere, a gull attacked my food feet first while trying to peck at my head znd face. My partner tried to shoo the bird and actually smacking it. He was attacked by a flock of a dozen or so losing all of out food £18.50. Pedestrians stood by and watched. Some laughed as if this was part of the tourist show. We were furious. We went back to the hotel and cleaned up from the mess, later going out to McDonalds. The are very smart and calculating, and I cannot see these birds being endagered. They did this with other accounts. We went back and to avoid the lookout and his flock, we boxed and bagged dinner to eat back at the hotel. I don't believe in dojng away with a population, but nothing is being done to adequately control the species.
I have a regular gull who visits my garden and I do feed him..he is very shy but alert when anything fly's nearby..He likes the food to be thrown into his mouth otherwise he will not eat it..very nervous unless I am around , do not feed the gulls at the coast due to the volumn of them and know I would be swamped if i did.
I agree as to the over fishing. As to any species of bird finding its sustainable level, this fictional figure will carry on plummeting unless WE change out behaviour.