Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 637
#1
http://bit.ly/1yktY2Q
Report on the Dover Express website that seagull chicks need protection. I find it very hard to believe there is a risk to the seagull population which seems to be thriving.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#2
They still have a mum that looks after them and very well to not very nice to have your young taken away even if you are a bird.
God made the world for all not just us that is my own feeling about it, not done to upset anyone.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#3
Would you say the same if we were talking about rats? Herring Gulls are a real pest at times especially at this time of year even dive bombing people in the streets.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/h/herringgull/-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#4
Towns are definitely not the place for gulls. They ought to eat a diet of freshly caught fish, insects and small rodents, not human garbage which is all they find in town. During a conversation with a local vet some years ago I was shocked to discover that most gulls found dead have died of botulism from eating decayed food out of dustbins and waste sacks. Surely the most humane route is to scare them out of the town using trained birds of prey and deter them from using their favourite roosts around Pencester Gardens. A similar strategy worked well in Plymouth where gull attacks were making life difficult for children at local schools.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
#5
Their
listing is due to decline in the breeding population range and numbers over 25 years, and their international importance.
As they still seem to be thriving locally why not look on the positive side and hope they become rarer nationally but continue to thrive locally, they'd then become a tourist attraction
I did see a chick being taken from its nest and killed near East Cliff recently - by a peregrine falcon, fantastic sight.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#6
two thoughts here.
1/for people to stop feeding the birds [pencester and other places],to re-educate the people who do.fines or inprisnment.
2/peole to put rubbish in enclosed bins or put sacks out at appropriate time.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
Couldn't agree more Brian, why people think that stale bread is good for birds is beyond me/
As for rubbish bags I sprinkle pepper on mine and have no problems.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#8
The gull that repeatedly raids the overflowing bin next door seems to be immune to the ground black pepper we sprinkled, maybe I should have used white.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#9
I use ground black, peter uses white.
I know some pour bleach on their bags.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#10
try baking powder.
Guest 774- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 498
#11
I got dive bombed twice yesterday morning walking around my building from the car. Totally unprepared for the thwack across the top of my head, then it came round for another go. Little !@#&$. I've no love for them.
"If it ain't broke, fix it til it is."