Meeting planned on gulls
Eggs to be removed from nests and raptors to be brought in to scare birds
A public information day is being held in Scarborough today to inform residents and visitors about a herring gull dispersal programme due to start the following week.
The action follows a campaign by The Scarborough News – and the issue of dive-bombing seagulls terrorising towns in their quest for food has again just been highlighted by a national newspaper. “Birds are wreaking havoc on innocent members of the public with indiscriminate attacks,” said one newspaper.
NBC Environment, a company that will carry out the programme on behalf of Scarborough Council, will pitch up at Dock End near the old police box on Sandside between 2pm and 4.30pm.
Staff will be on hand to ex- plain what the programme will involve and the strict legislation they will be working under.
People will also be able to meet some of the birds of prey that will be used to deter and scare away gulls as part of the programme.
Representatives from Scarborough Council will attend the events to offer advice and talk about the other measures they are employing to reduce the nuisance caused by gulls, including education around the importance of not feeding them.
The one-year trial disruption and dispersal programme, which was agreed by borough councillors earlier this month, will focus on seafront and town centre locations in Scarborough and Whitby, where evidence has shown that nuisance from herring gulls is at its worst.
The problem of gulls snatching food from children and adults was highlighted through The Scarborough News by parents and grandparents as attacks grew and they rejected the council’s in initial response that netting on buildings would solve the problem.
The work will involve the removal of herring gull eggs and nests from buildings in the selected areas and the use of birds of prey such as Harris hawks and falcons as deterrents.
In recent years, evidence has shown an increase in the number of attacks on people by the familiar seaside birds as they swoop down on their victims for food, particularly when rearing their young chicks.
Steve Owen, NBC Environment regional sales manager, said: “Gulls tend to return to the same nesting sites each year and with their offspring in tow, so the issue will become incrementally worse unless action is taken to move the birds to more appropriate areas outside of town. Herring gulls have amber protected status and we’re not out to harm them in any way.”