Inverness Common Good to pay £5,000 on seagull advice

"Fury at £5K spent on gull menace guru" reports the Highland News. Interesting comment there from Councillor Kerr:

"Councillor Kerr told the Highland News after the meeting: "I do not see the point of squandering another £5,000 of Inverness people's money. This is the biggest waste of money I have come across in a long time. There has been a fortune spent on this seagull problem over the years.

"The Inverness Common Good Fund has, to my mind, been steadily abused by Highland Council.

"They have a TEC Services department which should be looking into this as a public health issue, not taking money from Inverness people to pay for a consultant." "

This observer suspects that any consultant won't really give you much more than that is already freely available on the internet.

Here on the Gurn Salty and his pals have made the headlines quite a few times. Regular readers will remember how the Highland Councils plan to raise awareness of seagulls nesting in urban areas was received. Of course in Nairn the problem has been discussed from at least 1985.

Anyway this observer suspects someone will just get 5K for telling the council what is already out there on Google. A phone call to Dumfries might have done it where the Scottish Government financed a pilot project in removing nests.

Here's the Dumfries and Galloway Council web page that may be of some help.

The foremost authority on seagulls in the UK is Peter Rock he's been studying them for years and on Radio 4 recently he suggested that far more research needs to be done as to why they are such successful birds. I imagine anyone you give 5,000 quid to will mention him in their report. Here's some interesting stuff from him from 2003.

Here he is quoted in an independent article: "The Bristol University research project, expected to last three years and to cost around £400,000, could begin as early as next February, with satellite tracking devices fitted to birds. The gull expert Peter Rock, who will head the research, said: "Gulls are at the high end of animal intelligence. In the past couple of decades the pest control industry has had a fair crack of the whip at offering possible solutions. The fact is they haven't worked. Either we understand what we are dealing with or we continue to spend loads of money to no effect." Full article here.

Any Gurnites wishing to seriously study gulls might wish to head to this online directory which has a remarkable amount of scientific information on gulls, some of it published recently. Some of the items will lead to other subdirectories.

Carry on googling and you'll soon have five thousand pounds worth. No need to send me 5K just knock a tenner off my council tax please.

Inverness seagulls must be really nasty

"A COUNCILLOR has demanded that urgent action is taken against the threat of "menacing" seagulls in Inverness, after his pregnant niece was attacked by a bird.

Kenneth MacLeod, who represents Millburn on Highland Council, wants it to consider measures to control the gull population which could mean a licenced cull." More on the Courier

Anticipate more talk and eventually a press release? As we pointed out recently seagulls and the problems they cause in towns and cities are not new issues. It was being talked about here in Nairn in 1985 .

More details on the problem in Nairn here.

Seagull Flashback

Recently on the Gurn we highlighted how Iain Bain had denounced a recent Highland Council press release on the seagull problem as a "token gesture", the post including links to research on seagulls migrating to town centres etc, is here. Let us remind ourselves of some of the content of that press release however:

“The campaign to raise awareness of the problem of seagulls nesting in urban areas in the Highlands was first introduced in the Highlands in May 2010 by The Highland Council.”

Really? Did the Highland Council suddenly realise that something had to be done in early in 2010? Now flashback to September 1985 and a Nairnshire article entitled "A gull problem and fouling of public places discussed by committee." Here are some extracts from the article.

"The increase of the gull problem in the town over many years has resulted in more and more problems for the residents, there have been several reports recently of people being attacked by the gulls when they feel their chicks are threatened and their loud cries throughout the night cause considerable disturbance in many parts of the town.

It was obvious, said Environmental Health Chairman Councillor James Campbell the gulls had become increasingly unpopular for some time. But what action, if any could they as a local authority take?'

Mr Cook told members the matter was first brought to their attention a year ago when the course of action decided upon was to offer advice to residents to have nests removed from their rooftops and to make it as difficult as possible for gulls to build a nest in the first place.

Director of Law and Administration Mr Allan Kerr told the meeting that they had no real powers except in two areas - where a health hazard was being created by large amounts of droppings or in respect of amenity such as gulls congregating in the town square. They had no powers to deal with gulls nesting on rooftops or attacking people."

Obviously there was no need for a press release in 1985 as it was all reported in the Nairnshire. Meanwhile back to the future and the campaign to raise awareness (first introduced in May 2010) by Highland Council. Can we anticipate another press release from this campaign in 2037 and lots more talk in between?

Seagull problems and a "token gesture" press release from Highland Council

A recent press release by Highland Council has prompted an article and a sanguine editorial from Iain Bain in this week’s Nairnshire. The editorial is a remarkable piece of prose in its own right and captures eloquently the scene on one of our recent wet days, giving a marker of the time and space in which we now exist with our large winged companions all around us. If you aren’t within reach of a Nairnshire then you can see the Highland Council Press release here.

The Press Release states: “The campaign to raise awareness of the problem of seagulls nesting in urban areas in the Highlands was first introduced in the Highlands in May 2010 by The Highland Council.” Now Nairnites have been concerned about the town’s Seagull population nesting on rooftops since before the turn of the last millennium. Here in Nairn nobody needs to raise awareness of the problem, the problem has been in the face of many residents for quite a while. Iain Bain writes:

“The present leaflet, just ahead of the time when the chicks will fall out of the nests and create a problem as their parents aggressively defend them, is a token gesture. Don’t expect the local authority to do anything more.”

Iain is quite right about that, at last the Highland Council admits there is a problem and then puts out a leaflet telling us what we already know. I suppose it helps keep their press officer in a job. In August 2008, after years of the seagull problem being passed as a political football between local and central government the Scottish Government announced that they were going to try to do something about it and announced:

“The formation of a new team to help deal with the nuisance of seagulls has been announced today. The Seagull Task Force will shortly begin looking at ways in which gulls can be prevented from nesting and how nests can be effectively destroyed.
Action will begin on the ground next spring with Dumfries acting as a pilot.” More details here.

This observer had a quick google to see if there was any indication of how the pilot scheme was getting on in Dumfries. There was little to be found but it emerges that if you have seagulls on your roof in Dumfries you will get more than a leaflet from the local authority to help you:

· “Are gulls nesting on your property?
· Are the gulls causing a nuisance to you or your neighbours?
Then contact Environmental Standards.
We are offering free removal of gull eggs and nests during the breeding period of May – July. The service will be available to all residential premises and business premises in Dumfries and Heathhall, where there have been issues surrounding public health and safety i.e. food stealing, dive-bombing and aggressive behaviour from the gulls.” Full web page here.

Useful you might think, but many town centre residents will know that you will not succeed just by one attempt to remove a nest, you will probably have to continue for at least a fortnight as the seagulls don’t give up that easily and, even after you think you have won the battle, you might come out a few days later to find the birds back in place. This can be a time-consuming and costly business if you have say a property where the nest can only be safely accessed by a cherry picker. Seagull researcher Peter Rock wrote in 2003:

“What seems to be forgotten in this issue is that, for the gulls, successful breeding is far and away the most important aspect of their lives and that their investment in it is considerable. They will not easily relinquish their grasp on a breeding attempt. Dealing with all manner of threats and avoiding them is thoroughly ingrained in the nature of these birds - they have survived in this way for thousands of years. Were there an easy "cure" to this issue, it would already have been discovered and there would be considerably fewer, or no roof-nesting by gulls at all in Britain - or in the other countries where it occurs. Forming sensible - and sensitive - strategies for the management of urban gulls is going to take time and research.” It doesn’t seem if anyone has come up with anything since then. More details from Peter Rock’s research here and more on the historical background to the problem in this Independent article.

It is really hard to see how a way forward can be found unless a squad of at least half a dozen is created by the Highland Council, complete with good ladders and other equipment, to deal with this problem during the nesting season. Provision would have to be found for overtime payments too. The seagull population in Nairn will probably rise even more in the next few years too. Again to quote Peter Rock:

“The breeding season runs from March to the end of July. One attempt is made per season and three eggs are laid. In urban situations, this usually means that pairs will bring off three young each year. Pairing for life adds stability to their breeding patterns and, even if this is only 10 years, a pair could raise 30 offspring. This exceptional breeding success explains the exponential, national growth rate of 13 per cent. It should not be forgotten that to maintain a stable population in any species, including humans, all that is necessary is for each individual to reproduce itself once in its lifetime. Urban gulls are doing far better than this.”

The Herring Gull is protected under the wildlife act and even if shooting or poisoning were possible it would be difficult to accomplish safely in a built-up environment and would affect most of our animal loving sensibilities. There are many active seagull fans in Nairn and they make up a significant minority, yes, not as large as the numbers of swan and duck fans, but they find considerable pleasure in feeding these creatures despite the possible opprobrium of their neighbours. Many visitors to Nairn are also happy to feed the gulls as they quite often come from communities that haven’t been colonised yet and see these birds as part of nature’s seaside beauty. Maybe if the local authority had started to remove nests about twenty years ago instead of waiting until ten years into the new millennium to start issuing press releases we might have been in a different situation today.

Seagulls to be culled? (plus recycling)

The tweets from Liz and the Highland Councillor's only tweeting ruling administration councillor in town (Graham) are flowing tonight. You can catch up on what might happen to seagulls etc, here and here.

Full range of anti-seagull devices in use

Thanks to Jingle Bangles for this example of the full range in use.

Getting ahead

The Black-back Gulls always seem to be on the top of their game when it comes to tasty morsels coming down with the spates. Thanks to Jingle Bangles for this picture

Squid's in

None of your junk food here boy - we are real seagulls

What day are...

...the white bins collected?

Rosemary is right, Nairn is turning white

Picture will enlarge.

Gulls under attack

Another P&J report and this time it seems someone in the town is shooting gulls.

'Gulls have died a cruel and lingering death after being shot and wounded in a Highland seaside town.
Now the police and the Scottish SPCA are appealing for information after the spate of airgun attacks left gulls fatally wounded at Nairn.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity has been called out on several occasions in recent weeks after members of the public found seagulls severely injured in a residential area within the town, and not far from a school.' Full article here.

Not the ideal way to deal with the problem really. Perhaps someone has lost the plot waiting for the Scottish Government and the Local Authorities to get their act together and do something about the increasing populations of Gulls in many Scottish towns and cities? There has been a trial in Dumfries, details here.

It could be that there are no simple solutions however. It seems you need a licence to even remove nests and eggs. To quote from a Highland Council document: 'Direct Action, which includes the removal of eggs and nests, may be undertaken by properly trained operators under the conditions of a General Licence.

To further quote from the Committee document from August last year :

'7 Conclusions
7.1 Seagull nuisance affects a large number of towns and cities across Scotland, and there is no simple solution to the problem.
7.2 The Council’s current position is that it provides advice on request to property owners and the general public in relation to the measures available for dealing with seagull nuisance.
7.3 To achieve a reduction in the seagull population in towns and cities, a coordinated approach is required from property owners, in terms of bird proofing buildings, and the public, in terms of removing the food supply.
7.4 The results from the trial currently underway in Dumfries will be made available to local authorities in due course, and they will be assessed to establish the effectiveness of the various measures used.
7.5 In order to provide the public with more information it is proposed that a leaflet is produced which will provide the public and businesses with information on the legal protection for seagulls, the control measures available, discourage the feeding of seagulls, and encourage the public and businesses to ensure that the lids of waste bins are properly closed, to help restrict food supplies for seagulls.
7.6 Discarded food in public places is classed as litter under the Environmental Protection Act, and as such, offenders are liable to a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice.
7.7 The leaflet would also support a media campaign during the breeding season to support the measures to restrict the food supply for seagulls.'

Did that leaflet ever get produced? Anyone ever see one?

Stop whining about seagulls and make wine out of them instead

Thanks to Nairnbairn for pointing us in the direction of a solution which he feels could go some way to solving both the problem of our burgeoning seagull population and the economic threat to our off-licences. Could Seagull wine be our saviour?

Are we a Gullible community?

Jingle Bangle is sufficiently inspired by the possible Regal volunteer makeover to submit a photograph and some comment:

'A newly formed local group called the GULLIBALLS, spotted earlier today getting in a spot of ball handling, prior to their forthcoming fixture to paintball the Regal.'

Seagullsphere

The Nairn blogosphere and the Nairnshire are not without seagull comment this week. I wonder if anyone will enjoy the interesting use of Joni Mitchell's Song to a Seagull over on Where Mountains Meet the Sea.

Here's a utube recording, love the intro by Joni herself.

C-gull violence, more shocking evidence

Following on from Murd's picture we have another image from Joe that shows how our feathered neighbours will work together to attack intruders. Joe says:

'The 2 on the left of the pic each had a hold of the gulls wing on the right, whilst the gull on the right had the wing of one on the left !
The upshot was that the pair of gulls on the left turned the seagull on the right over on its back ! You can see the feet in the air !
The one on it's back eventually escaped minus a few feathers.

Proving that gulls have a lot of strength in those beaks and necks, can work together, and will fight to retain their territory.'

C-gull violence or simply a mating ritual?

Murd observed two seagulls recently, they spent some time in the above posistion the Gull on the right having trapped the other gulls beak in its own. They stayed like that for a considerable amount of time. Seagull wrestling? Mating? Random violence?

Don’t feed me

The Highland News reports that teachers at Millbank School in Nairn have banned food being consumed outside due to gull attacks on pupils. It is hoped that if there is no food the gulls will go elsewhere.
But as North Sea fish stocks continue to dwindle is it any surprise that the likes of gulls are attracted to humans for food? We are often happy to feed them titbits and comments in the Gurn have highlighted the problems that the bread crumb brigade can potentially cause for wildlife.
It is however sad that children are unable to eat food outside due to the potential menace of the marauding gulls.
Should we stop eating their fish for a while or have we made the gulls fast food converts?

Could it happen here? A £50 penalty for feeding the gulls?

The Doc tells the Gurn of news of a new initiative down south:

'Holidaymakers and residents in Burnham-On-Sea who feed seagulls or pigeons could face fines of up to £50 from next spring.'

Could a few crumbs get you in the same do-da as a doggie jobbie? i.e. with a wallet £50 lighter. How will the authorities distinguish between duck and swan lovers and fans of other birds?

Salty the seagull

Iright has been pondering our seagull situation:

Nairn saw an initiative last year to try and stop folk feeding the gulls - posters of Salty the seagull with a plea not to feed him. I’m not sure if it provoked a life change (Or should that be a sea change?) for Salty and his pals? A trip to Nairn harbour would suggest that people still like to feed all kinds of junk food to the birds.
The BBC reports on a new anti-gull initiative, this goes a bit further than posters as you will see.
Folk in Dumfries will have measures taken upon the resident gull population such as removal of eggs and nests
If there is a problem with gulls swooping for food surely it is because we have caught most of the fish in the sea and given them an appetite for human food?

Tales of Salty the Seagull: No 1

Salty finds it very difficult to compete with the hungry youngsters, it gets harder and harder for him every year, their numbers just keep increasing and they have no respect for our pal Salty. Once there was just him and a few friends when tourists with vans full of breadcrumbs turned up at the Links. Now poor old Salty has to try very hard to get even the smallest of crumbs.

(Picture will enlarge a little.)