Latest news with #gulls
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Trying to get rid of noisy, food-stealing gulls is missing the point – it's humans who are the pests
At this year's Cannes film festival, some unexpected hires joined the security detail at luxury hotel the Majestic. They were clad not in kevlar but in deep chestnut plumage, with wingspans up to four feet, talons for toes and meat-ripping ebony beaks. The new recruits were Harris hawks and their mission was clear: guard stars from the aerial menace of gulls daring to photobomb or snatch vol-au-vents. This might sound like an extreme solution to a benign problem – after all, haven't most of us lost sandwiches to swooping beaks and come out relatively unscathed? But as these notorious food pirates come ashore in growing numbers, cities around the world are increasingly grappling with how to manage them. Hiring hawks from local falconer Christophe Puzin was the Majestic's answer to curbing gull-related incidents (such as Sophie Marceau's 2011 wine-on-dress situation). But in metropolises such as New York, Rome, Amsterdam and London gulls are widely considered a menace, too, as they take up permanent residence on urban stoops. Gulls seem to be louder than ever, which makes it easy to forget their status as seabirds in crisis. All of the more than 50 global species of gull are falling victim to fragmenting habitats under conflicting marine policy measures, devastating avian flu, and even brain damage and organ failure resulting from plastic ingestion. In the UK, this torrent of trouble has rendered many species of gull in decline. Predator-free rooftops have enticed them from the waves since the 1940s and, broadly speaking, gulls have adapted well to their changing environment – even becoming effective urban seed dispersers. Lamp-posts have replaced cliff ledges, buildings are islands, landfill is rocky shore. One study found that gulls can recognise human routines, with their presence around schools tripling during mealtimes. Their adaptation – however bothersome it might be for us – has driven their survival. Perhaps acknowledging this could help us to live alongside them. As we have no licence to either capture or kill these birds, introducing hawks as agents of natural gull control is one method of regulating human/gull interaction. Some councils have produced gull awareness campaigns, encouraging locals to report nesting and not to feed them. Others default to installing physical barriers, such as spokes and spikes, to discourage gulls' resting sites. Such measures are expensive for local authorities and their effectiveness is inconclusive. Some councils, such as Carlisle, opt for a more covert approach, threatening gulls more gently in the form of hawk-like kites. In Exeter, Deliveroo trialled 'repellent' audio tracks, broadcasting recorded falcon cries and gull distress calls to deter them. Researchers at the University of Exeter have also investigated the benefit of holding eye contact with a gull, in making them think twice about stealing food. But such an array of anti-gull options perpetuates the patronising narrative of these animals as pests. The fact that gulls are thriving in cities points to our own ecological failures as a society. Global household waste is growing rapidly, most of which is thrown into landfill, where it is left to rot, releasing large amounts of methane – a greenhouse gas 80 times more harmful than carbon dioxide for 20 years after its release. We aren't so much giving gulls an ocean eviction notice as we are begging for them to come inland, feeding their instinct to dive, rip and smash around us – one bin day at a time. So what are urban gulls, if not a menace? Perhaps, in Cannes, they're a message of timing. The film festival takes place in May, during gull breeding season (April to July). It is a period when gulls are loud and chaotic, their defensiveness spiking when hatching and fledging; and when food is visible, we're baiting them with easy pickings. With broods to protect, reflexes are heightened. It is easy to conflate gulls' seasonal survival with year-round behaviour. On wilder shores, these periods of increased activity would unfold unnoticed. But we have altered ecological niches to make cities too tempting, deforming the instincts of species trying to adapt with acts of imagination and resilience. As a long-living social species that has mastered feats of adaptation, gulls have much to teach us. And as they adapt to urban habitats, we must also learn to live alongside them. This offers us a chance to change the story, to shape the future of shared urban spaces. Spaces where festival organisers align with nature's calendar, and the rhythms of life are respected. Spaces where waste is not just managed, but reimagined. Spaces where human impact is studied with intent, not ignorance. Spaces that would allow our relationship with the wild to mature so profoundly, conflict would become obsolete. Sophie Pavelle is a writer and science communicator
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
Why gulls sometimes seem drunk
Many a family seaside trip has been ruined by gulls dive-bombing tables and stealing chips. However, cowering Britons have often enjoyed a period of respite on so-called 'flying ant day', when the opportunistic scavengers appear 'drunk'. It was commonly thought the formic acid within the insects was intoxicating to the birds as they feasted on them. But scientists believe the gulls actually appear disorientated because they are 'so focused' on eating as much as they can, meaning they don't notice their surroundings and appear drunk. Dr Claire Asher, who has a PhD in Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, told BBC Science Focus: 'Gulls feasting on swarms of flying ants have disrupted traffic and made headlines across the UK. 'Some claim that the gulls are drunk, but can eating ants really intoxicate these birds? 'Many ant species produce formic acid as a defence mechanism and this is toxic to birds. So, it's theoretically possible that gorging on ants might make gulls a little disoriented. 'However, the black garden ants that swarm across UK pavements in the summer only produce very small quantities of formic acid.' Gulls collide with cars Dr Asher said experts think it is the birds' focus on the short-lived supply of insect food that means they 'don't even notice' the cars they sometimes fly into. Flying ant day, a period that usually arrives around mid-July, as the queens emerge and travel to set up new colonies. But, swarms of the insects can appear any time between June and the start of September Organisations often warn drivers to stay vigilant on flying ant day due to 'drunk' gulls. The gulls are known to swarm onto grass verges and feast on the ants as they appear. Over the years, scores of dead seabirds have been found on roads in the aftermath of flying ant day, having collided with oncoming vehicles while gorging on the insects. In 2013, residents across Devon were shocked to find dozens of dead gulls in roads across the county. Last year, East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service said it was 'inundated with road casualty gulls' and urged drivers to be cautious.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Gulls not so gutsy when they're alone, Ghent study suggests
Let's set the scene - you sit down to enjoy a delicious snack on a sunny day at the beach when a peckish gull swoops in and swipes your food!It's the stuff of nightmares, right? But the birds might not be as brave as their reputation suggests, according to a new study. The research shows gulls are more likely to take risks - including stealing food - when they're in a group compared to when they're alone. It's down to something called neophobia, which is a fear of things that are new or unfamiliar. As part of the study, a team of researchers from Ghent University in Belgium carried out tests with 54 young herring gulls. They wanted to find out if and how quickly the birds approached food with an unfamiliar object close by, and also whether being around other gulls impacted how quickly they went for the food. Each of the birds was given a unique marking before the test so they could be easily detected by a camera mounted on the roof. Before the testing, a plate filled with fish was placed at the back of an enclosure close to either an object the birds were already familiar with, or one that was brand new to them. Some of the objects included a blue bucket, a colourful ball and a yellow brush. Then either a single bird, or group of gulls was given access to the enclosure for 10 minutes at a time. What were the results? The study found the birds in groups were quicker to eat the food presented to them compared to gulls which were tested alone. More specifically, the birds in groups with familiar objects ate the food the quickest, with the birds in groups with new objects eating the food at the second fastest rate. Individual birds with unfamiliar objects took the longest time to eat, with 24 of them not eating anything during the trial. The final results suggest the presence of fellow gulls reduces the risk the birds feel when they're alone, encouraging them to behave with less caution. So next time you see a group of gulls eyeing up your food, watch out - you might want to make a move before they do!
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New survey will count urban gulls in Inverness
Gulls are to be counted in Inverness to help Highland Council better understand the size of the population and where they nest and forage. Like other parts of Scotland, there have been complaints about the birds' droppings, noisy calls, dive bombing and raiding rubbish bins. Gulls, like all wild birds, are protected by law but measures can be taken to discourage them from nesting in certain areas. Highland Council has appointed a consultancy to carry out the survey to help it develop future gull management plans. Gyrfalcon swoops into Inverness to scare gulls When do gulls become a problem? The count is taking place during May when gulls are nesting and most active in the city. The survey area covers more than two square miles (5 sq km) of central Inverness. It includes Longman Industrial Estate, Crown Circus and the riverside. An additional 20 buildings, including schools, across the wider city are also to be surveyed. More stories from the Highlands and Islands News from the Highlands and Islands on BBC Sounds Scotland's nature agency, NatureScot, is supporting the council's study. It has strict rules on managing urban gulls where they are deemed to be causing problems. NatureScot said nets, spikes and wires discouraged birds from nesting on roofs. Removing nesting material before the breeding season is also advised. The agency said a licence to kill chicks or adult gulls would only be issued as a very last resort. It said there would have to be a clear health and safety risk for this to happen - such as gulls dive bombing vulnerable people, or droppings affecting food processing. Before the nesting season, a bird of prey was used to scare away gulls from Inverness city centre. Inverness Business Improvement District (Bid) arranged for Angel, a four-year-old gyrfalcon, to fly three times a week between March and April.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
New survey will count urban gulls in Inverness
Gulls are to be counted in Inverness to help Highland Council better understand the size of the population and where they nest and other parts of Scotland, there have been complaints about the birds' droppings, noisy calls, dive bombing and raiding rubbish like all wild birds, are protected by law but measures can be taken to discourage them from nesting in certain Council has appointed a consultancy to carry out the survey to help it develop future gull management plans. The count is taking place during May when gulls are nesting and most active in the survey area covers more than two square miles (5 sq km) of central includes Longman Industrial Estate, Crown Circus and the additional 20 buildings, including schools, across the wider city are also to be surveyed. Scotland's nature agency, NatureScot, is supporting the council's has strict rules on managing urban gulls where they are deemed to be causing said nets, spikes and wires discouraged birds from nesting on nesting material before the breeding season is also agency said a licence to kill chicks or adult gulls would only be issued as a very last said there would have to be a clear health and safety risk for this to happen - such as gulls dive bombing vulnerable people, or droppings affecting food the nesting season, a bird of prey was used to scare away gulls from Inverness city Business Improvement District (Bid) arranged for Angel, a four-year-old gyrfalcon, to fly three times a week between March and April.
