There seems to have been a lot of discussion about Seagulls recently, and as you might imagine, with homes in Brighton, we are well aware of these beasts.
Many homes in Georgian/Victorian Brighton have parapets, and ours are no exception. At this time of year the Gulls make their nests in the gullies between the parapet and the bottom of the roof; often disturbing the flow of water in the lead-lined gully itself, when it rains.
It is forbidden to touch their nests in the breeding season (the little darlings are protected), so any removal of their detritus needs to be done at other times.
We have recently been undertaking necessary exterior decor work, and whilst atop their ladders, the workmen have removed vast amounts of nest material; in one case several black rubbish bags were filled.
I don't dislike Seagulls, I just don't want them doing the Hokey-Cokey on my roof at night, or stealing chips from my paper cone. Every creature has a rightful home, and the Seagull belongs on rugged shoreline cliffs, where he/she should feed off fish and other sea-creatures from the beach. The sight of them following the plough hundreds of miles inland may have its appeal on rustic calendars, but it's not what they should be doing.
With our towns now filled with both Foxes and Gulls, it's probably about time that the authorities reconsidered their irrational protection; not defending their breeding grounds. There are far too many of both!
If like here both are terrible pests with high breeding rates encouraged by human food waste. If much of the food source was removed, the population would reduce.
ReplyDeletePeople actively feed both Foxes and Seagulls; I imagine they feel sorry for them.
DeleteOddly we have seagulls here but they are not a problem even with all the fishing. Fat cats on the quay and pigeons nesting and poohing on the balcony are more annoying
ReplyDeletePigeons are a big nuisance too; again, people feed them. Goodness knows why!
DeleteFoxes are considered vermin here - not protected but discouraged by fair means or foul. Yet I see blog posts from Brits openly feeling sorry for them and leaving food out for them. Such different attitudes - wonder if they have the same problem in the Americas?
ReplyDeleteThe Foxes find enough food on the streets without having to be fed. Some people find them 'cute', but they shouldn't really be living in towns.
DeleteNo foxes here but we feed the seagulls
ReplyDeleteIn Brighton they tear open the rubbish bags, eat what they find, then leave a terrible mess behind.
DeleteNotice on the sea-front at some South coast resorts:-
ReplyDeletePlease don't feed the gulls as they are becoming un-naturally dependant and dangerously aggressive.
People still throwing the remnants of their fish & chip carry-outs for them to fight over.
And Yes, some people here also think foxes are cute, they've obviously never seen the devastation these killers can wreak in a hen-house or on new-born lambs with the attendant financial loss.
Some sort of control was practised by the hunts, but since these have now been banned the increase in fox population in their natural countryside habitat has forced many to adopt an urban lifestyle, because the anti-hunting faction didn't suggest any alternative method of control.
I sometimes wonder at the mentality.
And don't forget that the anti-hunt protestors have nothing to say about those who shoot, gas, or poison Foxes. No red coats; no protest!
DeleteVisitors to Norwich would be forgiven for asking directions to the beach. It sounds like Norwich-on-Sea.
ReplyDeleteYou expect the noise in Brighton, but their numbers are becoming ridiculous. They are literally 'thick on the ground'.
DeleteAh yes. Seagulls. Living on a fairly small island these have become a pest in our small towns too. The usual scavenging in bins, the mess, the aerial bombing of cars and people. A few years back a young seagull took a dislike to my car windscreen wipers. Although we live a little inland he would be there every day on my car bonnet pecking furiously at the rubber wiper blades until they were competely shredded. I had to replace them several times. I tried tying the wipers inside plastic bags at night but he shredded the bags to get to the wipers. Eventually my husband *peruaded* him to move on somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteLuckily there are no foxes on our island, but we do have a thriving rat population.
oops, that should have read *persuaded*. Fat finger syndrom again.
DeleteI have a .22 'persuader'. No Seagulls here at all; which is probably not surprising.
DeleteHere in Bath at any rate, it is not illegal to remove their nests - including eggs - from your roof.
ReplyDeleteVery wise. I'd imagined that the ruling was country-wide.
DeleteThere would be internal flooding if they were not removed.
Delete'The seagull took my ice cream AND the fudge stick.' I think the fudge stick hurt the most!
ReplyDeleteI don't like the idea of any animal being killed but understand the need when numbers get out of hand. With foxes, it's the hunt and all the regalia that is extremely distasteful to me. Hunting and killing an animal shouldn't be connected with fun.
In the old days of Fox Hunting there were two parts to the hunt. Firstly the Master and Whipper-in who actually did the hunting (on behalf of farmers' requests), and the followers who were there for a day out riding. No-one really killed for fun.
DeleteFox hunting to hounds isn't so much fun as a traditional way to control fox numbers. It's also a natural way, dogs being pack hunting animals. Not all the hunted foxes are killed either, it was the old, sick and weak that were more often caught. I've heard all the arguments about how cruel it is to see a fox torn to pieces, but it's only a corpse, the fox actually dies very quickly from shock.
DeleteAnd as Cro points out, the alternative methods of gassing or poisoning are non-discriminating and shooting relies on the accuracy of the marksman, the alternatives are even worse?
There are so many misconceptions about hunting. Today's saboteurs are more interested in politics and toffs than animal welfare; especially as Fox hunting was banned some time ago.
DeleteYes, I think you've hit the nail on the head, you only have to see the difference between the immaculately turned out horsemen and the scruffy unkempt saboteurs.
DeleteI might add that the hunt provided much-needed employment in rural areas, how many jobs to the sabs provide?
My home is in a more rural area. No gulls, thank god, but they are within throwing distance, at shopping areas. We do have fox, with whom we coexist. We only see them when tasty morsels are available outside the wood in which they live. 17 year cicadias three years ago last brought them out.
ReplyDeleteIn most UK towns, Foxes are now a part of daily life. They wander around without any cares. Like Dogs on the loose.
DeleteThe mess that rooks leave is also terrible but at least it is just under their rookeries. Heaven forbid that they should ever choose new venues in which to nest.
ReplyDeleteNo Rookeries here, but several Crows around; and loads of Magpies. I fear the Magpies will start to become a nuisance.
DeleteI like the picture. No seagulls here but some very pompous pigeons.
ReplyDeleteWot? No Seagulls following the ploughs? I would have thought that Lincs was perfect for them. I'll send some up from Brighton.
DeleteWhen I live in Laguna Beach we had to Pigeon Proof our roofs. If you let them hatch the eggs the babies would return next year. We had Pigeon wire put up and there was never a nest built. Such dirty birds Seagulls also.
ReplyDeletecheers, parsnip
Pigeon proofing roofs is very effective, but still people buy bread for them which means they walk around on pavements, and public squares, etc. It should be an offence to feed them!
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