Take action before gull nesting season begins
Residents, businesses and visitors encouraged to take action before gull nesting season begins
Aberdeenshire Council is encouraging residents, businesses and visitors to help tackle the issues around urban gulls across the region – with a clear message to stop feeding them.
The annual message comes as gulls are about to return to their nesting grounds and is in response to continuing complaints relating to gulls across Aberdeenshire including noise, aggressive behaviour, fouling and the feeding of gulls.
While many communities will continue to see a lot of gulls – particularly in coastal areas – numbers are actually still in decline and they are legally protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to harm them, their nests whilst in use or eggs unless you have a licence granted by NatureScot.
Gulls are intelligent birds and have learned that towns provide a wealth of safe nesting places with lots of opportunity to find food.
With the gull nesting now returning to their nesting grounds across many parts of the north-east, now is the time for residents and businesses to start taking preventative measures to protect their properties from nests being built.
The council’s message is to discourage gulls from nesting in our towns and villages and to encourage them back to their natural nesting sites.
Help reduce gulls nesting on your property by using deterrents such as fitting:
• Long spikes to nesting locations such as chimney-stacks
• Short spikes to nesting locations such as dormer roofs
• Wires to prevent gulls landing
Gulls are encouraged into towns as there is food readily available for them. You can help reduce the amount of food available by:
• Not feeding gulls
• Keeping food out of sight
• Storing your waste securely to prevent gulls getting into bags and keep bin lids closed
• Disposing of your litter properly
Aberdeenshire Council is currently inspecting its own properties to tackle any issues impacting the estate and is encouraging other property owners do the same.
Meanwhile, the council is to continue with a second year of trials of solar-powered sonar scarer devices at Westhill and Fishermoss primary schools and on units at West Shore Industrial Estate and the Faithlie Centre in Fraserburgh. While last year’s initial trial didn’t provide conclusive results, it’s hoped that by gathering evidence over two years it will identify positive outcomes. If successful, the council will consider introducing additional devices to cover other identified hot spot areas ahead of next year’s nesting season.
Cllr Alan Turner, chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, said: “With the gulls now returning to their nesting grounds across many parts of the north-east, now is the time for residents and businesses to start taking preventative measures to protect their properties from nests being built. We know that discarded food and litter continues to be an issue in some areas as it attracts gulls and that can cause attacks which we clearly want to see stop. I would again encourage everyone to bin their rubbish appropriately or take it home, and our thanks go once again to all those who do act responsibility when they are out and about enjoying Aberdeenshire’s towns, villages and attractions.”
Vice-chair Cllr Isobel Davidson added: “Gulls’ natural behaviour is to return to an area where they are repeatedly fed and as we have seen, such feeding leads to increasing numbers in areas where they receive food. The birds then cause a nuisance with communities through noise, fouling and aggressive behaviour, particularly when they are rearing and protecting their young. I would encourage all our communities to work with us to reduce the appeal of urban living for gulls so that they remain in their natural habitat.”
For advice on how to manage gulls see the following links:
Top tips for tackling gull issues now – Scotland’s Nature
Guidance – gull management | NatureScot
You can download our Guide to living with Urban Gulls here: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/environment/environmental-health/pests/#gulls
