Latest news with #seagulls
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Domino's creates its own robot ‘Domidog' to help safely deliver pizza to customers at the beach this summer
Domino's has created 'Domidog' - a robot K9 designed to safely deliver pizza to customers at the beach. Although the pizza pup won't replace traditional drivers, the prototype is being launched this summer to protect against swarms of seagulls who swoop on food at seaside hotspots. 2 2 The brand designed the fun robot pooch alongside research, which put seagulls in the top 10 things to bother Brits the most at the beach. With limited toilets (40 per cent), big crowds (37 per cent), and unruly dogs not on leads (17 per cent) also making the list according to 1,500 polled who visit the seaside. It emerged one in three admit they have fallen foul to the boisterous birds who circle the skies and swoop for food. With 59 per cent wishing there was a way to easily protect their snacks from seagulls when at the seaside. Izzy Gardener from Domino's said: 'Seagulls have claimed too many seaside snacks, and it's time we did something about it. 'We're always exploring new and innovative ways to keep your pizza as hot and fresh as possible on its delivery journey. 'That's why we're trailing Domidog this summer: a tech-driven answer to an age-old beach problem.' Before turning pizza pup, the Boston Dynamics robot has proven its capabilities: supporting search and rescue operations, assisting bomb squads and advancing robotics research in human-robot interaction. Now, it's putting those same advanced systems to work on a new mission - guarding your pizza from airborne snack thieves Complete with a hi-tech spec, it can autonomously navigate its environment using onboard sensors, stereo cameras, and advanced localisation technology. What is the Dominos Tiktok pizza- Ingredients of viral pie revealed plus how to order it Other features like 360 degree perception also help it to effortlessly avoid obstacles while delivering. From the research, when asked what grated their gears most about the greedy gulls, stealing food (61 per cent) naturally topped the list, followed by their aggressive behaviour (50 per cent). With one in 10 going as far as to say the badly behaved birds have damaged their property, while 19 per cent claim they'd scared small children according to the data. Izzy Gardener from Domino's added: 'Thanks to this prototype, seaside visitors will have a sure-fire way to keep slices safe and secure at the seaside – without them heading off into the sky.'
Times
3 days ago
- General
- Times
Find a way to live with swooping seagulls, Scots told
Homeowners and businesses have been urged to learn to live with attacks by seagulls rather than asking for permission to destroy their nests. Due to declining populations, the birds have protected status even though there have been increasing reports of them stealing food in coastal resorts. Last year NatureScot, the government agency, turned down a record 620 applications submitted by individuals and businesses to demolish gull nests, many more than in previous years. Just 40 applications were rejected in 2023 while only one was turned down the year before that, according to data obtained by The Mail on Sunday. The agency said it has a duty to balance health and safety concerns with gull conservation and the birds were facing 'serious declines' in their populations. Its approach now was to support individuals, businesses and communities to 'better manage gulls without the need to kill the birds or destroy their nests'. A spokesman said: 'There will be times when gulls are causing a health and safety issue. In the longer term, we need to find ways to live with gulls and other wildlife.' The gull threat is most obvious in seaside communities where they forage for food such as chips, pies and pasties in people's hands. The birds can also be aggressive when defending nests during the egg hatching season. • Eat with your back to the wall: smart ways to keep seagulls at bay The threat has been raised in parliament by the Scottish Conservatives as concern grows over gull attacks. Douglas Ross, the Highland list MSP and former party leader, said he had been 'inundated' with complaints. 'It's an escalating problem that's putting public safety at risk,' Ross said. 'The SNP government and NatureScot are completely out of touch with reality.' Richard Lochhead, an SNP MSP who represents Moray, said he had contacted Jim Fairlie, the agriculture minister, about the issue. One mother wrote to him about her and her children being regularly attacked by the birds. She said: 'I'm terrified to even leave my house at times. I've been dive-bombed and there comes a point where it's a serious problem. I am genuinely developing a phobia of them.' • Seagull after your chips? Fear the squadron, not the loner Capturing, injuring or destroying any wild bird in Scotland, or interfering with nests or eggs, is illegal. However, licences are granted to get rid of nests in areas where gulls are a menace. While 2,041 such licences were granted in 2023, only 505 were in 2024. Gulls are a common sight in many areas near the coast but some species, such as herring gulls and kittiwakes, are on the UK red list as species of conservation concern. The latest Seabirds Count census shows all five breeding species of gull continuing to decline, with numbers in Scotland down by between 44 per cent and 75 per cent depending on species. The declines are attributed to factors such as changes in food availability and land use, with some species also suffering losses because of recent outbreaks of avian flu.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Devon pub landlord under fire for encouraging customers to fight back against seagull scourge with water guns
A pub landlord has come under fire after fighting back against marauding seagulls that steal his customers' chips. Steven Walker, manager of the iconic Ferry Inn in Salcombe, South Devon, has placed loaded water guns - marked 'Seagull Gun' in permanent marker - on every beer garden table and is inviting drinkers to take pot shots at the gulls if they come too close. He claims the tactic is working - with the seabirds learning to recognise the guns and avoid them. Mr Walker said: 'If a seagull swoops down and robs someone's food then the sensible thing is to replace it, which is not ideal for an establishment making its money from selling food and drink. So it seemed a better idea to deter the birds in the first place. 'We don't want to harm the birds, although they are quite cocky and a bit of a pest. We just want to scare them away. 'We have to remind people the water guns are for use against the seagulls, not each other. But we have definitely noticed that, after a few weeks, the birds have come to recognise the guns and stay away.' The Ferry Inn's beer terrace overlooks the entrance to Salcombe Harbour, an area that has up to 20,000 visitors at any one time during peak holiday weeks. It is said to be one of the top ten UK pubs for its beer garden views. However, its water gun move has been criticised by wildlife charities, who say all species of seagulls are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 - making it illegal to injure or kill them. Gull numbers in the UK have dropped by 60 per cent since the 1980s and they are red-listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature for being at risk of extinction. A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said: 'We acknowledge that gulls can sometimes be a nuisance, but we'd ask people to consider their own behaviours, too. If you eat outside, consider eating beneath parasols or close to walls where gulls find it more difficult to fly. ' A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said: 'The main concern about this strategy is it could encourage the idea that gulls are animals to be fought against, or that they're somehow in the wrong.' Geoff Edmond, who investigates wildlife crime for the RSPCA, said: 'Gulls are brilliant birds. They form lifelong bonds, are attentive parents and great at solving problems. Yet they are one of the most persecuted wild birds in this country. 'We receive a report about deliberate or extreme cruelty to a gull every three days, and last year alone we had nearly 4,000 reports about gulls in need. 'I have seen gulls kicked, shot with air guns and catapults and stamped on. They might be noisy, they might take our chips, but they deserve our respect just like any other creature.' But Devon tourist chiefs backed Mr Walker on Saturday, saying the deterrent 'simply encourages the birds to fly away without causing them any harm'.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Police appeal to identify man after seagull attacks in Bath
Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to identify after a series of attacks on seagulls in a city centre.A man was reported for attacking and killing baby seagulls with an umbrella on the roof of Bath's Corridor shopping centre at around 16:50 BST on 15 and Somerset Police described the man as black, middle aged, of slim build, and wearing a checked shirt and carrying a blue bag at the time of the who had any information about the incident, or who might know who this man was, has been asked to contact the force.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Daily Mail
CCTV released after baby seagulls attacked and killed with an umbrella
Police are hunting a man after baby seagulls were allegedly killed with an umbrella on the roof of a shopping centre. Officers received reports of a man attacking the seagull chicks above the Corridor shopping centre in Bath on Tuesday July 15. A CCTV image of a man has been released as the force continues to investigate. They are looking for a black, middle aged man of slim build. He was wearing a checked shirt and was seen carrying a blue bag at around 4.50pm. A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: 'We are appealing for help to identify the man in this CCTV image who we would like to speak to in connection with reported attacks on seagulls in Bath city centre. 'A man was reported for attacking and killing baby seagulls with an umbrella on the roof of the Corridor shopping centre at around 4.50pm on Tuesday 15 July. 'We would like to speak to a man who is described as black, middle aged, of slim build, and who was wearing a checked shirt and carrying a blue bag at the time of the incident. 'If anybody has any information about the incident, or who may know who this man is, is asked to contact us.'
