[mcdowella]

Just heard a very interesting talk on gulls - here are some snippets (mostly from memory so they may not be 100% accurate)

Studies around Bristol suggest the population there is currently growing at something over 20% a year, and that many gull deterence measures are a waste of time and money. A lot of people are already annoyed by gulls, and at 20% a year they ain't seen nothing yet!

On Skomer, a gull might manage to raise 1 chick every 10 years. Its urban cousins could be raising 2 chicks a year.

Anybody in the area with a telescope - try pointing it at Gulls and looking for lettered rings. They're going to chase them off one of the local rubbish tips and would really appreciate sightings of ringed birds to see where they end up. I imagine these could be reported online - have a look at the link from http://www.bto.org/ringing/index.htm. The current theory is that the birds naturally commute far enough to make this a regional issue rather than a local issue, so don't necessarily have to be in or even that near to Bristol to make this worthwhile.

A quick web search finds some slightly dated info at http://www.ehj-online.com/archive/20...2003/may1.html

[Steve Lister]

Any particular type of gulls?? Herring Gulls I assume?

Steve

[mcdowella]

The worries are about both Herring and Lesser Black Black gulls, I believe.

[Anthony Morton]

A thought-provoking article 'No lapwings in a silent valley: the reasons why' by James Rebanks appears in the current edition of Country Illustrated. In it he relates how a large flock of gulls, which roost on inland resevoirs and refuse tips by night, began arriving at first light over the North Pennine valley where his family farmed until recently. He describes how the gulls spent their time either soaring on the thermals, or else finding food on the farmland below.

Known for their predatory nature, the flock preyed on any small birds and animals they came across, but Mr Rebanks only noticed the scale of damage they were causing when the once-numerous local lapwing population began to dwindle. The RSPB's usual suggestion of changing farming practices being a contributory factor to the decline was discounted, as the land had been farmed in much the same way for the last forty years or so.

It soon became clear to Mr Rebanks that gulls were the main culprits, after he witnessed lapwing chicks being killed and dismembered. He now suggests that gulls have become "super-predators" and a primary reason for the UK's lapwing numbers being halved in a single decade. This seems to be borne out by the fact that in the coastal areas where they traditionally live and breed, some species of gulls are declining, while in urban and inland areas, where they are considered a nuisance, they are increasing.

According to the article, a soon-to-be-released survey of the seabird population is expected to reveal these trends, with numbers of the urban and inland herring gull and lesser black-backed gull, in particular, rising dramatically with disastrous results. It is certainly worth a read.

[Jasonbirder]

How Rare is Rare?

Well a thread where a certain Mr Morton doesn`t advocate the culling of one member or another of our bird population would certainly fit my definition!

[Jasonbirder]

??????

Just about anyBird that can will prey on gamebird and wader chicks - including Herons, at Weeting Heath one of the biggest predators of Lapwing chicks is the Stone Curlew - surely you cannoy advocate taking any action against those!

It is natures way for the young, the vulnerable and the infirm to be preyed on - get over sentimentalising it!

[Anthony Morton]

QUOTE = Jasonbirder

Just about anyBird that can will prey on gamebird and wader chicks - including Herons, at Weeting Heath one of the biggest predators of Lapwing chicks is the Stone Curlew - surely you cannoy advocate taking any action against those!

It is natures way for the young, the vulnerable and the infirm to be preyed on - get over sentimentalising it!


Do try to keep up, please! If you read what I have written (at least twice by the sound of it) and also stick to the subject, you will find that I have not suggested taking action against anything. This is a figment of your imagination.

What I have said, is that I found the article in question interesting - nothing more and nothing less. I most certainly did not even say whether I agreed or disagreed with the views of the writer, merely that in my opinion it was worth a read.

Now then, my lad, let me give you a starter for ten. Never, EVER, try to put words into my mouth, or pre-judge what I might be thinking. Plenty of people with far better brains than yours have tried and, just like you, have failed. Please bear that in mind in future!

[Anthony Morton]

QUOTE=Jasonbirder

How Rare is Rare?

Well a thread where a certain Mr Morton doesn`t advocate the culling of one member or another of our bird population would certainly fit my definition!

Your wish is granted, dear boy - there's no mention of culling here.

By the way, How Rare is Rare? is an entirely different thread - and I certainly didn't mention anything about culling there either. Another figment of you fevered imagination perhaps?

Ah, the impetuosity of youth!

[Ranger James]

Originally Posted by Anthony Morton

QUOTE=Jasonbirder

How Rare is Rare?

Well a thread where a certain Mr Morton doesn`t advocate the culling of one member or another of our bird population would certainly fit my definition!

Your wish is granted, dear boy - there's no mention of culling here.

By the way, How Rare is Rare? is an entirely different thread - and I certainly didn't mention anything about culling there either. Another figment of you fevered imagination perhaps?

Ah, the impetuosity of youth!

No need to be rude Anthony, you are the first to disregard messages with inflamatory contents.

James

[Jasonbirder]

Don`t patronise Anthony

Please give a simply yes or no answer to the following simple easily defined questions – no caveats, explanations or evasions – its not hard I`ll put my own answers just for fairness?

1. Do you believe that the current protection laws for Sparrowhawks should be changed to allow limited culling of certain individual birds causing problems?
2. Do you believe that the current protection laws for Peregrine Falcons should be changed to allow limited culling of certain individual birds causing problems?

My answers are obviously 1) No and 2) No as I guess will be everyones on this forum except for yourself

[Ranger James]

Originally Posted by Jasonbirder

Don`t patronise Anthony

Please give a simply yes or no answer to the following simple easily defined questions – no caveats, explanations or evasions – its not hard I`ll put my own answers just for fairness?

1. Do you believe that the current protection laws for Sparrowhawks should be changed to allow limited culling of certain individual birds causing problems?
2. Do you believe that the current protection laws for Peregrine Falcons should be changed to allow limited culling of certain individual birds causing problems?

My answers are obviously 1) No and 2) No as I guess will be everyones on this forum except for yourself

Careful Jason, as it has been shown in previous threads, this depends entirely on what is deemed as 'causing a problem'.

This thread started as a gull question, lets not get draged down certain routes here, when there are other threads which are discussing this. Can you repost this question to AM on the rator cull thread?

James

[Adey Baker]

The population of Lapwings has declined in my area, similar to other parts of the country, but I can't say that I've noticed an increase in gull numbers during the breeding season (as opposed to winter months).