Herring gulls - Hated or loved?

[Articuno]

What are your views on herring gulls inhabiting the cities? Well personally I do not blame the birds for becoming urban because there are too many people littering and feeding the gulls when they should be fending for themselves. I like herring gulls a lot and I find it sad that where I live they are hated so much. There is a lot of cruelty to them and nobody seems to undersand that it is their own faults. So does anyone here find them a nuisance or do you like them just as much as any wild bird?

[Andrew S]

I think they are very elegant birds with a wonderful evocative call, and much underappreciated.

Don't have that many of them in London, there are usually more Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed on the Thames, and all the gulls together here don't seem to be perceived as a problem.

[Ian Peters]

Gulls are a good example of how opportunistic birds are as a group (and hence why we love therm so much) yet I find it difficult to understand why people cannot step back and think for a moment. Gulls are a problem because they are protecting their young but isn't that how we would feel if our children were threatened?

[desgreene]

They can be a nuisance sometimes!
A couple of weeks ago I was about to enter a restaurant in Birmingham with a group of workmates. Just seconds earlier I had remarked to myself what a lot of gulls Birmingham seems to have, then one scored a direct hit right down the left leg of my black jeans. Cue a not very graceful entrance to the restaurant surrounded by my so called mates who were all in complete hysterics.

Still it was an excellent shot from high altitude.

Des.

[pauco]

Love em, just had a week in scarborough and to see the young in all stages of plumage was great. Dusk & Dawn were the best times with their loud calls.
bert.

[Mickymouse]

I go with the love em brigade, we have loads round here mainly Herring Gulls, sure they can be a nuisance at times but can't everthing.

Mick

[christineredgate]

I love the Gulls.When we lived in Nottingham I used to have withdrawal symptons when I saw them on the field opposite to our house,and I used to wish we were back up here in Cumbria.In fact when I saw one flying on its own this evening across a dark cloudy sky,I wondered where it was going ,was it to it's mate ,had it got a safe nest for the night.Sound silly,but they are part of our heritage.When they attack people they are usually defending their young.Beautiful white birds agains't the clear blue sky.

[Larry Lade]

From your avatar I could not tell which half was girl and which half was bird. lol

Here in mid-continent of the U.S. we only get gulls at various times of the year. Winter is a good time, especially on the Mississippi River which is the border of eastern Missouri. We mainly get Ring-billed Gulls, with Herring Gulls being the second most abundant. The other "more commonly occurring" gulls are Franklin's and Bonaparte's. On really good "gull days" in the winter on the Mississippi River there have been 8 or 9 species observed.

I like'em!

[christineredgate]

Larry, my avatar is special.My two loves in life,fast bikes and our feathered friends.(not forgetting Barry(hubby ) and Alfie ,our dog)We have Gulls all the year round,mostly the usual,Herring,Blackheaded,Blackbacked,etc.They are part of our way of life.

[Larry Lade]

Hi Christine,

I "sort of mis-fired" with my post which you refer to above. I was trying to be a little funny and was addressing the question to Articuno (initiator of this thread). Under her avatar is the quote "Half girl half bird".

All the best,

[Vectis Birder]

I love them. I love their call and I love the way they liven places up. It is sad the way people want to harm them and get rid of them. There was an appalling story a couple of years back when some lowlife in Brighton (I think it was) deliberately ran over a group of Herring Gulls and killed some and injured others - the police did their best, but I don't think the toe rag responsible was caught.

One of the funniest birding sights for me was a few years ago down at the docks here in Southampton watching two Herring Gulls fighting over a fish one had caught. The fish eventually tore in half.

[samuel walker]

I accept them as part of the fabric of the Great Lakes.They are in the minority usually bullied by Ringbilled gulls.They have been totally run off of some favorite perches by double crested cormorantsThey manage to hold their own despite the hassels. I like herring gulls
Sam

[CJW]

So what do we do if a gull attacks a child?


Gary
Run away.

[Ian Peters]

So what do we do if a gull attacks a child?


Gary

Let me make the case clearly here, I am not saying there cannot be any controls whatsoever but I am right with the RSPB in saying that we cannot allow controls to take place outside the General License. As it turns out, LBBG were attacking children on South Stack in June but that is hardly a surprise when everyone was walking through their nest site and children will not be told to stay on the path. However, when it comes to urban gulls we have a reversal of the problem and councils are boxing clever over the solution. As per usual, some councils are advocating the easy and most cautious way out when there are other solutions available. The whole Environmental Health subject is in a mess at local level because too many councils have trimmed the budgets and this was an obvious area to hit. The EH departments are rightly cautious about potential H&S compensations claims but they are not looking into the deeper problem. Gulls are nesting on flat roofs because they can yet there are several anti-roosting devices available that are extremely effective at preventing this. Of course, property owners are saying they cannot afford this and councils could not fund the devices. Yet, controls are only a short-term solution anyway and more gulls will to replace any that are removed. Also, we have to be mindful that removal of nests and the methods employed to do so are not legal under Cruelty Laws (throwing gull chicks off the roof - as has been related to me on more than one occasion).

[Vectis Birder]

Why is the killing of a bird apalling, whereas the tearing in two of a fish is one of the funniest things you've seen?

Gary


*Sigh* I wish there was a "banging head on desk" smiley. Come off your high horse, please...

Because the killing of the gulls was a deliberate act of cruelty on the part of some stupid little toerag driving a car, while the fish "incident" was part of the natural course of the gulls' lives. They are surviving. That's why. Watching the two gulls squabbling over the fish was amusing actually, from a birding perspective - they are amusing, lively birds.
People who compare the acts of wildlife trying to survive with deliberate acts of cruelty on the part of people need to get real.

As for gulls attacking kids, that would only happen if the kids were near the nest sites and when the kids are out of the way, the gulls would stop.

[Tero]

We have a small number, ring billed more. I know where to find them in winter on the river. Not a problem here.

[Leif]

I'm amazed at how greedy they are. In Brixham I would get fish and chips and then throw the battered skin into the back garden. A Herring Hull would swallow the Haddock shaped skin in one go. I once had some old bananas, so peeled them and left them out. Sure enough, Herring Gulls landed and swallowed them whole. I was amazed they could still fly. I've read that they can swallow a live chick whole.

[CJW]

I've read that they can swallow a live chick whole.
Surely that would depend on the chick's age and species.

[Andrew]

Herring Gulls are great especially when you have fish and chips or a pasty, then you can really look them in the eyes! Amazing!

Once in Jersey I saw an obese family walking the beach with ice creams and a Herring Gull swopped down for the man's ice cream. It took off with it but what happened next was amazing. The obese man RAN after the gull trying to get his ice cream back. It must have been the first time he ran more than a hundred yards! The gull dropped it in the sand and had time to retrieve it then make for the rocks out of reach!

Herring Gulls also have another advantage. Large groups of them in estuaries attract rarer species. They often feel confident with them so become easily twitchable!

[Vectis Birder]

My mum lives in a coastal village on the Isle of Wight where, inevitably, there are lots of gulls. They got to know when I was going to emerge with food and lined up on the roof of the house opposite when they knew I was coming out of the front door with goodies for them. They are very intelligent birds.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

When we were on holiday a couple of months ago, we went into the pedestrianised shopping centre in Dumfries. There were gulls everywhere, and I commented to my husband that I thought some of the townspeople probably disliiked them. A few minutes later, when I was admiring a particularly handsome bird, who was walking just near us, I felt some thing hit my back - yes, a big splat right down the back of my bodywarmer! :eek!:

[Ian Peters]

When we were on holiday a couple of months ago, we went into the pedestrianised shopping centre in Dumfries. There were gulls everywhere, and I commented to my husband that I thought some of the townspeople probably disliiked them. A few minutes later, when I was admiring a particularly handsome bird, who was walking just near us, I felt some thing hit my back - yes, a big splat right down the back of my bodywarmer! :eek!:

After being targeted by a LBBG at South Stack... :storm:

[Vectis Birder]

I've been splatted by pigeons in the past, but not gulls, despite having lived on the coast all my life.

To all those who have been "got" in this way, think of this: it is lucky that cows can't fly ;)

[Elizabeth Bigg]

I've been splatted by pigeons in the past, but not gulls, despite having lived on the coast all my life.

To all those who have been "got" in this way, think of this: it is lucky that cows can't fly ;)

Elephants would be even worse!

I was told once that it is lucky - I reckon the only lucky ones are the Dry Cleaners. Actually, I just left it to dry completely, then it brushed off enough to make the body warmer quite acceptable to wear - though I did wash it when I was home again.

[Tero]

Never mind cows. Hawks are bad enough. I've seen it.

[Leif]

Surely that would depend on the chick's age and species.

I was thinking along the lines of a few days old black headed gull chick.

[jynxtorquilla]

I noted the same thing
in Morocco for example Herring gull are not numerous but the Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus yes ..and more and more they colonize some coastal cities ..they don't breed there but people start to hate gulls because they leave dropping on the roof houses.
however I agree with everyone which appreciates ithese birds and it's of our own fault if their natural habitats are deteriorated and if they come to seek refuge with us.

[Gentoo]

As you have all seen from my posts, gulls are by far my favorite birds. In San Diego most people seem to hate gulls. At Sea World, nests are destroyed because the gulls are considered a major pests as they take food from people and the animals. This area was once a salt marsh however, a place where gulls lived. I agree with some of the other posters that we cannot blame the gulls for making our enviroment, theirs.

[christineredgate]

There is one downside to the Gulls.Our Tern colony has been vacated,so I have been informed today.There were lots of Terns sitting on eggs,and there were also some chicks last week.The Terns nest on the same site as the Black Headed Gulls.I have seen both the Terns and Lapwings furiously defending their chicks from the gulls.It does seem sad that the Terns come to their breeding place each year,only to have their broods decimated by the resident Gulls.
But I still like to see and hear the Gulls.They are just predators,I guess.

[jomo]

My take on it:

You go to the beach, and there are huge crowds, and other people's bad music blaring as if everyone wanted to listen to that crap, and children screaming, and large people in small bathing suits, and sea-doos tearing around in the swimming area and making the water stink, and wet dogs barking and messing on the beach, and garbage and cigarette butts everywhere, and what does everyone complain about? THE GULLS.

All the gulls ever did was clean up all that nasty refuse that accumulates wherever there are large numbers of people. And, sometimes, they'll crap on someone. And that's just funny.

[Evanji Axu]

I don't really concern myself with them. We get mostly Ring-Billed, and Laughing in the summer. But I remember that when I was little, I would go to the zoo and feed the ducks and the gulls would eat the duck food before the ducks could reach it!

[Kezza]

Some sick idiots in Torquay didn't like them. :-C

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/5180662.stm

[Evanji Axu]

Oh my God, that's awful...

[Mickymouse]

My take on it:

You go to the beach, and there are huge crowds, and other people's bad music blaring as if everyone wanted to listen to that crap, and children screaming, and large people in small bathing suits, and sea-doos tearing around in the swimming area and making the water stink, and wet dogs barking and messing on the beach, and garbage and cigarette butts everywhere, and what does everyone complain about? THE GULLS.

All the gulls ever did was clean up all that nasty refuse that accumulates wherever there are large numbers of people. And, sometimes, they'll crap on someone. And that's just funny.That would be my take on it too, on the odd occasion I find myself on the beach with the kids, watching the Gulls is the only thing that stops me being bored to death.

Mick

[Evanji Axu]

Update: The immature Ring-billed gulls are sooo cute with their dark eyes :<

[John o'Sullivan]

I'm a fan of anything that can survive in the habitats we allow them. It gives me hope that whatever we do to the world something somewhere will do well. This Includes gulls, pigeons, canada geese, the glorious ruddy duck, rats, mice etc etc etc.

Gulls are thick though. I saw a young herring gull once trying to swallow a whole flatfish. No matter how many times it tried it just kept trying. It only stopped when another gull took it away from it and flew of into the distance.

Another time I watched some shooting types shoot a young herring gull out of the air. A nearby herring gull was attracted by the falling bird which was itself shot which led to another bird flying over etc. Fortunately after about 6 birds the shooters got bored with their entertainment as by this time there were loads of gulls heading in their direction.

[Gentoo]

Another time I watched some shooting types shoot a young herring gull out of the air. A nearby herring gull was attracted by the falling bird which was itself shot which led to another bird flying over etc. Fortunately after about 6 birds the shooters got bored with their entertainment as by this time there were loads of gulls heading in their direction.That just makes me mad. People can be so screwed up sometimes. At my job, when nests of gulls are discovered before there are chicks in the nests, the eggs are destroyed. I know gulls are protected both by state and federal laws but does anyone know if this applies to private property like a theme park? Western Gulls are California's state marine bird and have been declining slowly but steadily over the last 20 years. In 1984 there were about 30,000 birds that bred on the Farallons off of San Francisco. Today its about 12,000, a decline of about 70% or so. There are only about 200 colonies in there entire range sure some like those at seaworld breed away from the main colonies but these account for a very small portion.

Anyone know where I can find out about the nest tampering and if it's legal? Sorry everyone, this just touches a nerve with me.

[Evanji Axu]

Anyone who destroys bird nests is a word that I'm not allowed to say on this forum.

[Gentoo]

Anyone who destroys bird nests is a word that I'm not allowed to say on this forum.I probably shouldn't say this but Sea World in San Diego does it.

[Evanji Axu]

Sea World is Lame.

[The Raptor]

My take on it:

You go to the beach, and there are huge crowds, and other people's bad music blaring as if everyone wanted to listen to that crap, and children screaming, and large people in small bathing suits, and sea-doos tearing around in the swimming area and making the water stink, and wet dogs barking and messing on the beach, and garbage and cigarette butts everywhere, and what does everyone complain about? THE GULLS.

All the gulls ever did was clean up all that nasty refuse that accumulates wherever there are large numbers of people. And, sometimes, they'll crap on someone. And that's just funny.

jomo, your take on this subject is perfect, absolutely perfect, well said mate

Rod.

[Gentoo]

Sea World is Lame....but you didn't hear that from me.

[mothman]

Was over in St Ives a couple of weeks ago and discovered that you literaly can't eat outside anymore,the Gulls are totally brazen and if you cover your food they have got to the point where they stay and argue untill folk either run inside or give it up(it remindes me of skuas harrying Puffins )

Obviously it isn't the Gulls fault because it is a really successfull strategy but I cant help feeling that this can not carry on without the gulls losing the war in that area dreadfully, as all the business owners(that I chatted to) are lobbying for a cull.

Ps A herring gull honestly ate an eight inch by five inch Cornish pasty of mine whole in one swallow.

[mothman]

With reference to my above PS My wife upon witnessing this said(in total innocence)"Gosh I wish I could do that"

there was honestly only one fitting reply:"Yeah I wish you could as well love"

[Bob Pert]

We certainly have our fair share of Herring Gulls here in Arbroath, most Arbrothians hate them with a vengeance. Me, I love them, every one of these birds is a character. My old auntie used to have one that would walk along the roof apex to her kitchen window and tap on it to be fed. One day my aunt wasn't in so "Jockie" just kept tapping the window, er, until it broke!

One day outside my workplace there was a terrible commotion, we all went out to see and here was two Herrings going at it hammer and tong, they were so busy fighting they didn't even notice all the cars slowing down and steering round their confrontation in the middle if the road. Needless to say it was during the breeding season.

We also have the mindless morons who run them over in the street, now these are something I hate.

[London Birder]

we have a good few rooftop colonies in London, mainly Herring but with smaller numbers of LBB and recently confirmed breeding GBB ... no real probs, though one pair of LBB set up home on a roof in a small quiet mews and ended up giving grief to the residents ... got a small colony on buildings viewable from my place, good value, love hearing them call during the night.

[deborah4]

Rooftop colonies in Brighton & Hove for years - symbol of the local football team, town would not be same without them in more ways than one!

Hated by:

1. Those who leave their household rubbish on the pavement in black bin liners instead of in dustbins contrary to local by-laws. (thus blaming resulting pampers, tv dinner packaging, and beer cans strewn over pavement in morning on gulls - rather than their own anti-social habits)

2. The same people who don't think twice about keeping everyone else awake with late night barbeques and parties til the early hours but occasionaly decide they need an early night

3. The same drivers who never slow down for cyclists, who use side roads as rat runs and resent any other road user, including juvenile seagulls (who are dispatched accordingly)

4. The Parents of young children who believe that humans alone have the right to protect their young from cruelty and abuse

Loved by

1. Generally most of those who have a problem with all the above

2. Those who admire the social cohesion, adaptive behaviour and flying skills skills of the Herring Gull and wonder perhaps who is more evolved

3. Those who regard the 'natural world' around them a blessing rather than an inconvenience

[Evanji Axu]

So basically they're hated by people who suck and loved by people who don't suck?

[Gentoo]

So basically they're hated by people who suck and loved by people who don't suck?
Yes I must co-sing with this statement. Only in my area, replace Herring with Western Gulls but things are much the same here. At my job, we warn people how aggresive the gulls are but they don't listen. Our Western Gulls will snatch food right from your hands. They especially love churros, swallowing them whole. They steal hamburgers, pizzas, ribs you name it. One odd thing they've learned is that mayonaise packets contain a tasty snack. They poke holes into it and peck the mayo out. Some birds will simply swallow that packet whole sually (but not always), after poking holes in it, coughing up a pellet later. A few individuals will grab Heermann's Gulls until they cough up something which they then eat. The southern Western's are slightly less aggresive than northen birds and are less predatory but I've seen them grap House sparrows on rare occasions, swallowing them whole.

They nest on some of the roof tops in the park. Just tonight I saw a fledgling that has jumped off of it's roof, walking around among the people. Sometimes they get caught by our Killer Whales which bate them with fish they either caugh up or saved somewhere. That's what happened to the Slaty-Backed Gull last winter.

[Evanji Axu]

Wow. The gulls where we live (Ring-billed, Laughing) never do that. They just take what people throw for them.

[Dawsy]

Seems the like time for an opposing view. Here in Bristol we have large populations of herring gulls and LBBGs in the city and I have to confess I always get quite attached to the chicks growing up on the roof I can see from my window at work. However a noisy flock of herring gulls outside the bedroom window at dawn is never appreciated. I know it's not their fault but it doesn't stop me being firmly in the hate category when they wake me up in the morning.

Michael

[skink1978]

Living in Bridlington, Gulls are a part of every day life.

Last year our local paper even ran a very serious story with the headline: 'Man Mugged by Seagull!'

Thought the whole thing was way over the top, as did most other people. Herring Gulls are not shy when they have a chance of grabbing some left over chips, but I'm sure they don't go around mugging holiday makers.

A few weeks later I stopped laughing when I had my wallet and mobile phone stolen by a gang of Blue Tits! :C

[Evanji Axu]

But how did they manage to pick them up?

[Gentoo]

One thing Western gulls will do is walk around the strollers that are parked outside of the shows. They will search each one for food. Here's a situation I saw that I found funny; A family parked there stroller in the kids playgroud area and took the kid out. They took him to the sand box to take pictures. A Western Gull adult had been watching them. When they walked away from the stroller, he landed on top of it, picked up a brown bag and dropped it on the ground. He kept watching the people who were still clueless. The gull took a sandwich out and swallowed half of it. He looked over at the people again who were still clueless. Then swallowed the other half and took off. The people came back to their stroller and wondered who stole their food. They had no idea it was a resourceful gull.

[Bob Pert]

But how did they manage to pick them up?

OK I'm now trying to dry the tears of laughter! Try to imagine that yourself and you'll see what I mean! Oh, jeez, I'm off again, I can see them in masks and little black and white striped jerseys..............:clap:

[scuba0095]

hello

I was wondering if someone could help explain this to me

Recently I saw herring gulls feeding wqith feral pigeons

they would grab a pigeon by its neck and force it to drop a french fry whenever it got one before the gull did

I dont understand this??

If the gull could manage to get a pigeon in its beak why not just kill and eat the pigeon instead of just ringing its neck to drop the french fry? anyone that can explain this ?

[Gentoo]

hello

I was wondering if someone could help explain this to me

Recently I saw herring gulls feeding wqith feral pigeons

they would grab a pigeon by its neck and force it to drop a french fry whenever it got one before the gull did

I dont understand this??

If the gull could manage to get a pigeon in its beak why not just kill and eat the pigeon instead of just ringing its neck to drop the french fry? anyone that can explain this ?
It was probably taking the path of least resistance. Much easier for it to get the fry (chip) than to go through the hassle of dispatching a pigeon.

[Leif]

hello

I was wondering if someone could help explain this to me

Recently I saw herring gulls feeding wqith feral pigeons

they would grab a pigeon by its neck and force it to drop a french fry whenever it got one before the gull did

I dont understand this??

If the gull could manage to get a pigeon in its beak why not just kill and eat the pigeon instead of just ringing its neck to drop the french fry? anyone that can explain this ?


It probably could not swallow the pigeon. A pelican could, but it is larger than a herring gull.

There was a photo on the BBC site not so long ago, taken in a southern US state, of a greedy snake that had swallowed an alligator, and burst. All you could see was an alligator half sticking out from one half of the snake.

[Vectis Birder]

I like Herring Gulls a lot. I know they are disliked by a lot of people and are demonised as vermin which I believe is grossly unfair as they live - in an urban environment - on people's rubbish. We litter, they clear it up. Who's the bigger vermin I wonder, idiots who chuck McDonald's (yuck) wrappings in the gutter, or the creatures cashing in by living off the litter? Not the gulls.

[Leif]

I like Herring Gulls a lot. I know they are disliked by a lot of people and are demonised as vermin which I believe is grossly unfair as they live - in an urban environment - on people's rubbish. We litter, they clear it up. Who's the bigger vermin I wonder, idiots who chuck McDonald's (yuck) wrappings in the gutter, or the creatures cashing in by living off the litter? Not the gulls.

I would support culling MacDonalds' customers. When do we start?

[AlanR]

What are your views on herring gulls inhabiting the cities? Well personally I do not blame the birds for becoming urban because there are too many people littering and feeding the gulls when they should be fending for themselves. I like herring gulls a lot and I find it sad that where I live they are hated so much. There is a lot of cruelty to them and nobody seems to undersand that it is their own faults. So does anyone here find them a nuisance or do you like them just as much as any wild bird?I see urban gulls as just another type of bird in what is now part of their natural habitat. It's not new. I can certainly remember often seeing gulls where I grew up in greater London. If they can make use of the food we discard perhaps we should be more careful in how we discard it.

[AlanR]

I see urban gulls as just another type of bird in what is now part of their natural habitat. It's not new. I can certainly remember often seeing gulls where I grew up in greater London. If they can make use of the food we discard perhaps we should be more careful in how we discard it.
We don't have any trouble with aggressive gulls although I know parts of Gloucester do. Perhaps such areas need to take some measures to protect the human population against attacks.
Alan
[Sorry about the last post. The computer jumped before I had finished!]

[michaelmacey]

Im not sure about love or hate, down here there are so many its more a case of ignore. You dont need to look for them, there everywhere, when we had chips on a friday at work, i used to get them feeding in mid air, they caught practically everyone thrown up, so their certainly not daft.

[nctexasbirder]

I love all Gulls. They are cool. I guess im a larophile now. lol. i havent seen the Herring yet, just Ring-billed, im pretty sure. that was a hilarious story, Gentoo. Sorta like Hitchcockian.... THE BIRDS!!!


I also can't wait for Gulls of the Americas coming out this summer( the first in the new Peterson Reference Guides, also planning a Woodpecker guide from what i know). You can see it on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Peterson-Reference-Guides-Gulls-Americas/dp/0618726411/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-9246117-8675865?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173580170&sr=8-1


anyway, sorry for hijacking the thread. :D

[Sedgley]

I like herring gulls. In fact my wife, who is a non-birder but very sympathetic to the cause, lists them as her favourite gulls and the sound instantly reminds her of the coast.

[Mabel]

A few years back, you couldn't go anywhere around the coast without seeing Herring Gulls. Then they disappeared. BirdWatch Ireland said that Herring Gulls suffered a decline of around 90% ?!!!!??! Persecution and botulism were cited as possible causes. They seem to be recovering, but I'm glad to see them again. Hope our House Sparrows come back, too.

[rozinante]

I can't see how anyone can "hate" any wild creature that is after all simply following the dictates of nature. We can often regret or even hate the consequences of some aspects of the consequences of "nature" taking its course. To me though hating creatures such as herring gulls, feral pigeons, grey squirrels or mink makes no more sense than hating bacteria for causing desise. Especialy when mans corruption of natural environments and its ballances is often the root cause of the most unfortunate instances.

I find these views are often unacceptable to many people though, predominantly those with the least understanding of the complexities of the natural world. It’s refreshing to note that most contributors here, even while regretting some of the effects of "unnatural" populations, realise that the creatures concerned are less responsible than we are.

Sometimes it seems like watching animals teaches us more about ourselves than it does about them.

[Farnboro John]

Herring Gulls are extremely tasty - extract from the Cornish Gyrfalcon's diary.

John

[Leif]

I can't see how anyone can "hate" any wild creature that is after all simply following the dictates of nature.

If you had mice that were pooping on your kitchen work surfaces, you wouldn't be too enamoured by them. Though I find mice cute, I can't see any alternative to poison.

[rozinante]

If you had mice that were pooping on your kitchen work surfaces, you wouldn't be too enamoured by them. Though I find mice cute, I can't see any alternative to poison.

I am sure you are right Leif, I have been there and worse and was not very pleased about it at all.

Control measures might be necessary or desirable in some situations. It's the blanket condemnation of species as vermin with terms like "tree rat" for squirrels or "flying rats" for gulls or pigeons that worry me. It's the old demonise the enemy tactic, once so labelled they become fair game for any treatment anyone chooses to dish out.

For a rational human being to allow their emotions to turn to hatred of a creature for the crime of following its pre-programed responces to a given situation seems not only irrational but counter productive to me. Add the fact that the given situation is likely to be of man's own making and the injustice is complete.

Hope you can persuade you mice to go elswhere Leif and that if you do feel it becomes neccissary to poison them, the bodies can't get picked up by anything else.

[J8KKB]

Love gulls ...admire their cheek and audacity...always think of them as small dogs with wings (no I havn't been drinking). Best memory of a gull was in cornwall, just about to take a bite from a sandwich at a very nice restaurant overlooking a harbour, when one of these little darlings scored a direct hit on my hand, at least it missed the sandwich though. My 2 boys at the time found it highly amusing.

[Storm-Petrel]

Well, humans are practically invited the gulls into the city with all the plentiful food and shelter. Personally, I like gulls and dont mind them in the city at all. Same goes for grackles, starlings, house sparrows, and pigeons.

[Articuno]

I'm really surprised that this topic is still going! Anyway, nothing has changed, people still abuse gulls and there are signs all over the place asking people not to feed them, yet litter is still a major problem and people who leave their rubbish around in black bags alone are making it easy for gulls to eat in cities. I recently went to London and while driving on the bus, almost every house we passed had a black bag or two just dumped outside their front gardens.
I've seen gulls rip them open! It's quite funny really..

Love gulls ...admire their cheek and audacity...always think of them as small dogs with wings
Agreed, how many birds have the guts to fight, steal and argue with a human? And imagine having a pet gull. Wouldn't you love to set them on those damn chavs and yobs?

[JMikeB]

Though I find mice cute, I can't see any alternative to poison.


Recently had mice popping up in the garden shed and the garage. I thought there were only 2 or 3 - so I bought one of those multi catch traps from a DIY store. In 24 hours I caught 13 - released them all alive and well in some fields about half a mile away. They seemed to be very attracted to the bait - mini weetabix with nuts & honey etc

We also get a lot of rats in the garden from nearby fields. I refuse to use poison so I borrow an air rifle from a friend and hide behind the rabbit run. It is a lot more effective than poison.

[nctexasbirder]

We also get a lot of rats in the garden from nearby fields. I refuse to use poison so I borrow an air rifle from a friend and hide behind the rabbit run. It is a lot more effective than poison.

:-O thats funny man!

[ayasuda]

In response to Gentoo question about egg destruction. Sea World probably obtained a state permit to remove the eggs before they proceeded with the egg removal. As for private businesses, it is illegal to tamper with nest once there is a sign of an egg or fledgling, hence the current court case in San Pedro.
There is a proper way to request aid if you need to remove a nest. Please contact Fish and Game or an appropriate wildilfe rehabiliation center for advice on how to proceed. If you would like to here more Gentoo, you can contact me at my email address.

In response to the original thread, I know it is hard to reframe from feeding waterfowl or gulls, but as you can see they become a nuisance and are dealt with accordingly. If you truly want to keep these guys around, spread the word STOP FEEDING THEM! People will have a much better relationship with these species if you could just curb your behavior, and tell a friend. The birds will go back to their original feeding behavior, and they will stop pestering people in cities. It can be done, it was done in mine, and it worked. The ducks are no longer attacked, the gulls went back to the fields to find mice, and the gulls stopped scaring the children. The additional benefit was the Canada Geese and wild ducks just use the pond now to rest before they head off to the nearby wetlands.

[scuba0095]

just curiosu for what reason would a herring gull attack a duck? dont they eat totally diff foods?

[On-Firecrest]

Its not a herring gull but theres hilarious footage of a lbb gull on the birdwatching in scotland dvd (by bird images) of a lbb gull flushing a hen harrier off its prey (a rabbit) and swallowing it down whole. It left the back legs sticking out of its mouth like horns! There is also footage of a gbb gull stealing a sanderling off of an artic skua.

[scuba0095]

where can we see these pics? pls tell us

[Andrew Whitehouse]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6907994.stm

[pianoman]

Though Herring Gulls are of course still very common, It seems to me that in the last 20 years or so it's been replaced by the Black Headed as the standard "seagull" of towns and coasts. The HG's cheerful laughing has been overtaken by the less attractive squabbling and wheedling sound of BHG in many places...

or is it just me?

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Though Herring Gulls are of course still very common, It seems to me that in the last 20 years or so it's been replaced by the Black Headed as the standard "seagull" of towns and coasts. The HG's cheerful laughing has been overtaken by the less attractive squabbling and wheedling sound of BHG in many places...

or is it just me?

Here in Aberdeen, there are still very large numbers of Herring Gulls but there seem to be more and more Common Gulls breeding in the city.

[OwlTalon]

Ahhh......Herring Gulls.

"Behold the humble Gull, much can be learned from him: Good things often come to those who annoy the *ell out of people who have stuff they want!"
-myself

I like gulls. They are a bit trashy and annoying, but they really are amazingly adaptable, and great flyers! I have them in my coastal neighborhood.

[Zarac]

I'm a fan of the Herring Gulls which co-inhabit my seaside town. When I'm talking on the phone people can hear them and comment on how nice it is to hear the sounds of the seaside. Some people complain they are responsible for rubbish on the street because they open the black rubbish bags left there - personally, I blame Homo Sapiens who have choices in how to dispose of rubbish.

[Peewit]

I've been splatted by pigeons in the past, but not gulls, despite having lived on the coast all my life.

To all those who have been "got" in this way, think of this: it is lucky that cows can't fly ;)

Hmm it is a bit like that with pigeons, bombs away is the only word I can use. Glasgow is a great spot for some decoration.

Zarac I agree here that humans are too blame for waste matter. Gulls are just intelligent enough to understand how to get their food source. ;)

Personally, I have got to admit I do not mind gulls in general at all. To me they are characters, and certainly liven up a place. They are just clever birds, and they have learned to take advantage of a free food source from man

I have lived and worked in Aberdeen along with OH, and there are gulls of all types up there, and they are very over active at the best of times. Take your car in for the day, park your car in Aberdeen near the towncentre Quay, go to work, come back to the car at the end of the day. You find that your car has been completely covered with gull poo - big time. ;)

It is sticky, smells revolting, and hard to get off the paintwork of the car. This is where a lot of fish is dispatch as it is near the shipping port, so hence the fish smell on your car.
So it is a hosepipe job each night. Just adds some fun to your day :eek!:

I have also worked in Aberdeen, with Gulls of all types living on the office building roof where I worked. They tap dance all day across the roof. If we opened a window we where blown away with a gull shrieking at full tilt, and yes this is what they do when flying around the coast. :eek!: Noise level booms a lot,
Then you could not hear yourself talk on the phone. :eek!:

When the breeding season comes into play the noise increases a lot in many ways. They swop you and poo on you too if you get close to their nests. You hear the youngsters mewing too from all buildings around you. It was all round entertainment.
Apparently it is against the law the disturb that gulls during the breeding season in the UK, so that is how they are so successful too.
Juvs cannot be interfered with in any way at all, so they grow up, and so the cycle starts again.

Gulls of all types will around for a long time yet :t:

[Farnboro John]

BOU don't seem to like them, at any rate they're dragging their heels over updating their taxonomy.

John

[Greysands boy]

Every time you get splatted by a townie gull just look at it as Karma people,
I will expalin we have driven these birds and many like them closer and closer to us with our wasteful ways in several ways in fact the food they scavinge is part of our ever speeding destruction of the planet gclimate change warms the seas etc moving plankton away from our shores chasing them are the sand eels (Also over fished) which are the staple diet for many of our majestic seabirds. So its our fault there here. You cant scold them for being survivors can you.
And on a less heavy note they look great and sound even better i live on the north devon coast (Plenty of gulls here!!!) I would be gutted if i couldnt listen to them every morning with my coffee!!!

Daz