Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Fake eggs may be used to prevent gulls breeding
FAKE eggs could be used to prevent nuisance gulls from breeding in Fife.
There have been complaints across the region about the birds swooping at people either in search of food or because of a perceived threat to their chicks.
Fife Council’s environment convener Ross Vettraino has not ruled out the possibility of a cull.
However, the local authority is understood to be considering a more subtle approach.
Its environment, protective services and community safety committee will be looking into the use of dummy eggs which, when placed in nests, trick the birds into incubating them even though they will never hatch.
Cowdenbeath councillor Alistair Bain said: “This way the eggs are there and they don’t breed at all.
“Over a period of a few years the gulls are gone because they mostly come back to nest in the same areas. It could be a solution that works very well.”
According to conservation charity RSPB, “random nest destruction” is ineffective at controlling gull numbers because they will return as long as there are suitable nest sites and available food.
The RSPB said: “Government licences allow the killing of urban gulls only as a last resort, where a significant risk to public health or safety has been identified.
“While we understand that roofnesting gulls can cause problems, we question the appropriateness of lethal control on a declining, red-listed species and highlight the need to comply with European bird protection law.”