Seagulls!

There was a spate of attacks in Aviemore, a couple of years back, but that was by a flock hell bent on forcing food from people leaving the main streets rather good fish 'n' chip shop. The local authorities took action and the gulls "seen off" Not quite the  same as nesting birds but an example of how bad they can get.

I think it all started with people feeding them! 

Fortunately not ,but been *** on three times this year by them (and still not won the lottery). OH  twice and several other people we know this year have been in the same area - a wee warning that we were getting too close. Very humbling lol

Ayr High Street was quite bad during the breeding season for attacks on people this year

Hi Soosin,

Actually you have just reminded me, whilst holidaying in Fort William a few years back, walking down the high street, I felt this incredible heat down one side of my arm!  Yep, like you, was hit with a whamee.  At the time I did wonder with all the people that were walking down that street, how it managed to get me - was it aiming or was it lucky!! something I'll never know.......I wonder if the one at the surgery has ever been to Fort Wiliam lol

Not personally though some Arctic Terns decided to come and have a go once when I was up in the Farne Islands. Gloucester used to have a notorious LBBG that took a dislike to a particular council employee and gave him what for  repeatedly, more or less on sight. 

hi Soosin

I understand where you are coming from with what you have said in your last post.  The Gulls are so confident they will do anything to be a pain, and see you as a 'public'  convenience in your life. {blush}

I remember going across by Ferry from the West Coast to the Island of Arran in Scotland a few years back.  This particular day the West Coast seas where really choppy, and some people in my group became seasick - and refused to eat at all.

All I remember eating this sandwich,  then I turned to talk to someone, and a Seagull grabbed the whole sandwich from my hand.  It flew off with the whole Sandwich intact  {eek}

Obviously the Gulls had been targeting the Ferry for some time, and that is why people like me who did not hide their food under wraps where caught out.- it happened so quick too. {eekkk}

Just a warning that we have to keep our food hidden on any Ferry out at sea

Regards

Karthy and Dave

Unknown said:

Hi Soosin,

Actually you have just reminded me, whilst holidaying in Fort William a few years back, walking down the high street, I felt this incredible heat down one side of my arm!  Yep, like you, was hit with a whamee.  At the time I did wonder with all the people that were walking down that street, how it managed to get me - was it aiming or was it lucky!! something I'll never know.......I wonder if the one at the surgery has ever been to Fort Wiliam lol

 

Not happened to me personally but years ago at St Ives someone has bought fish & chips and put it on the sea wall beside them and a gull swooped down and took the whole fish!

It amazes me actually how they detect food! A couple of years ago, whilst on holiday on the Isle of Skye, I was parked up at Neist Point and there were gulls flying about out at sea, but none close by. I decided to have lunch before going walkabouts, and within minutes of me getting my lunch out, a hering gull landed a few feet away from my car, patiently watching me. I have to admit to giving him a piece when I'd finished... I know I shouldn't have, but he was so patient!! (plus it was in the middle of nowhere...)

It only goes to prove that going to the Doctors keeps you fit!!!  But seriously, these attacks can be terrifying.  It happens all the time here in Llandudno (not helped of course by Simon King feeding them chips on Spring Watch).  Anyone carrying food, including children with ice creams, have been attacked and cafes who do not clear their alfresco tables quickly enough usually get the remaining food scattered all over the outside of their premises.  The problem is compounded by ignorant visitors who actively encourage them by throwing food down on the promenade.  Whenever there is food about, or chicks are wandering on the ground, the adults will attack.  There is no solution, other than vigilance.

The birds nesting on roofs of houses are most likely to be herring gulls, while the more gregarious lesser black-backed gulls tend to concentrate on the larger expanses of industrial or commercial buildings with flat roofs. Although numbers of roof-nesting gulls, especially lesser black-backed gulls, are still increasing due to food exploitation, the overall population of herring gulls is plummeting. The lesser black-backed gull population has also declined in recent years.

LS

hi Lloyd

That is an interesting obeservation with the gull species preferences where they like to nest and live.  I thought that all types of species of well known gulls would settle ie buildings which are an alternative version of a cliff edge to them.

This year while we in Menorca, Spain, we where lucky to see Yellow Legged Gulls there.  The locals told me that the YLG's are now beginning to pick up the 'feeding' habits of all 'opportunistic' species of other Gulls ie the Herring and the GBB Gulls as they do in the UK (and other countries no doubt)

So now the YLG's are being treated like unwanted vermon.  That is sad as they have picked up some bad habits of the other gulls,  On the other hand the Audouin's Gull is still unaffected by human's so that is good that they have been - though their numbers have dropped a whole lot too.

Dave and I stayed in Aberdeen a few years ago, and Dave worked at one of the major companies in the centre of town by the fishing ports.  There is a lot of fishing industry on the move, and the smell of fish was unbelievable in that one area.  No wonder it was Gull heaven

Unfortunatily Dave had to park his car close to the same fishing companies and every day his car was riddled with Gull poo,  It had to be hosed down every evening.  It was really disgusting as well as bad for the cars paintwork.  Gull poo on car door handles is just {YUK} believe you me it is horrible.  These where GBB Gulls due to their size.

I also worked in Aberdeen myself and the modern building I worked at had a lot of gulls on the roof area.  We had to open the roof windows for fresh air as the room was in the centre of the building.  To endure high territorial squawking of Gulls while you where working was a bit different,  When the youngsters appeared there was a lot more noise, and foot tapping on the roof area.

I understood that you cannot touch Gulls throughout their breeding season like with other birds.  The thing is the gulls are a huge problem in some of the industrial cities so what do we do about their numbers - that is what I would like to know? {wondering}

Regards

Kathy and Dave

Unknown said:

 

The birds nesting on roofs of houses are most likely to be herring gulls, while the more gregarious lesser black-backed gulls tend to concentrate on the larger expanses of industrial or commercial buildings with flat roofs. Although numbers of roof-nesting gulls, especially lesser black-backed gulls, are still increasing due to food exploitation, the overall population of herring gulls is plummeting. The lesser black-backed gull population has also declined in recent years.

LS