‘Disruption and dispersal’ plan to tackle resorts’ gulls problem
ENVIRONMENT EXPERTS are stepping up their battle against the blight of seagulls swooping on unsuspecting residents and holidaymakers at Yorkshire’s most popular seaside destinations as the busy summer season gets underway.
A herring gull ‘disruption and dispersal’ programme has been launched in Whitby and Scarborough, which involves bringing in birds of prey, including falcons and harris hawks, to scare off opportunist birds.
As thousands of visitors prepare to flock to the Yorkshire coast over the summer months, there are fresh warnings not to feed the gulls to avoid bringing out their aggressive behaviour.
Steve Owen, from NBC Environment, which is carrying out the scheme on behalf of Scarborough Borough Council, said: “As we’ve seen during recent months and years, herring gulls have become a problem bird during prime tourist season in Scarborough and Whitby. I should stress there’s nothing wrong or unnatural with the gulls’ behaviour, they’re just being good parents. However, when they come into conflict with humans this becomes an issue.”
The blight of the seagulls has been well-documented in recent months, with the council even starting a record of the number of “gull muggings” of residents and tourists. The birds, bold after years of urban living, have risen significantly in number and become increasingly problematic - particularly in the Scarborough bay and Whitby harbour areas. During last year’s tourism season - between March and August - there were 22 attacks by seagulls, with 50 per cent occurring in July.
Information days are being held in Whitby on Tuesday next week and Scarborough the following day to inform the public about the programme. Experts will be on hand to explain what the one-year trial involves, including plans to remove herring gull eggs and nests from buildings.
The council’s environment manager, Jonathan Bramley, said: “This is a chance to find out exactly what the programme is all about and importantly, learn about how changing our own behaviour can make a positive difference. These measures aren’t about changing the traditional image of the seaside; they’re about trying to achieve a more manageable situation where gulls and humans can live more contentedly side by side.”
Mr Owen said the gulls tended to return to the same nesting sites each year with their offspring in tow, and the situation would become “incrementally worse” unless action was taken to move the birds to areas outside of town.
He said: “Herring gulls have amber protected status and we’re not out to harm them. Instead, we aim to modify their behaviour through the use of non-lethal falconry.”