Discussion
Hundreds of them at 4am everywhere.
I live about 10 miles from the beach, were we will get the occasional flock but this year I feel like I have woken up on a beach it's that bad.
They don't seem to do anything but fly around squaking either.
One thing locally in my town that might attract them is a refuge dump, could this be why they've exploded volume wise or are getting unlucky now?
I live about 10 miles from the beach, were we will get the occasional flock but this year I feel like I have woken up on a beach it's that bad.
They don't seem to do anything but fly around squaking either.
One thing locally in my town that might attract them is a refuge dump, could this be why they've exploded volume wise or are getting unlucky now?
I think the word feral usually refers to animals or birds that have escaped or been released into the wild and then gone onto breed, either amongst themselves or with a similar wild equivalent.
Alternatively it can be used to describe a species that lives in an unnatural environment. So the gulls that live in towns or rubbish dumps would fit into that category.
Alternatively it can be used to describe a species that lives in an unnatural environment. So the gulls that live in towns or rubbish dumps would fit into that category.
There do seem a lot this year, there’s a colony of them on the roof at work and the amount of crap they discharge in the car park is impressive, they seem to hit three or four cars in one go. Google revealed the oldest known gull was 49 so you’ve got a lot of years of squawking ahead!
gt40steve said:
I think the word feral usually refers to animals or birds that have escaped or been released into the wild and then gone onto breed, either amongst themselves or with a similar wild equivalent.
Alternatively it can be used to describe a species that lives in an unnatural environment. So the gulls that live in towns or rubbish dumps would fit into that category.
I think cities are an unnatural environment for humans, so everyone who lives in a city is feral too...Alternatively it can be used to describe a species that lives in an unnatural environment. So the gulls that live in towns or rubbish dumps would fit into that category.
The gulls are just doing what gulls do - being successful a la Darwin. In fact in future there might be a species that's evolved to eat only chips... although that would make them dependent on humans (unless they also evolve the ability to grow potatoes and make and operate chip fryers).
I'm about a mile from the sea and there are loads flying around making noise in the early hours at the moment. I feel like our bit of coast used to have mostly the smaller black headed gulls, but the herring gulls are a lot more common now. They aren't as brazen to snatch food from you yet though like some places I've visited!
I live in London and have the same problem with gulls squawking at 4am. On a hot night its a dilemma. Sleep with the windows open and get waken by the squawking or shut the window and roast while you sleep.
I think in my local area they are attracted by food scraps from a row of local restaurants, possibly food thrown out by supermarkets nearby too.
I think in my local area they are attracted by food scraps from a row of local restaurants, possibly food thrown out by supermarkets nearby too.
wyson said:
I live in London and have the same problem with gulls squawking at 4am. On a hot night its a dilemma. Sleep with the windows open and get waken by the squawking or shut the window and roast while you sleep.
The same here, but with magpies in the trees round my house. Really good alarm clocks just when you don't want one 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4pbkXIQyyg
I cleared a dead one from a pedestrian crossing on Liverpool waterfront at lunchtime, put it in some bushes.
Next looked for a reported 'plastic wrapped round neck and face' gull further up the road, apparently it could fly, no chance finding that one.
I did find another 100 yards away, it stood, went to run into flight and just dropped, wrapped in a towel to bring home, while walking I felt a sharp pain in my left nipple... Bloody thing only got me with it's beak.
It has now been fed and watered and is crapping all over my shed until a rehabber takes it tomorrow.
08.30 this morning I was searching a park for a goose with fishing line round it's legs.
Next looked for a reported 'plastic wrapped round neck and face' gull further up the road, apparently it could fly, no chance finding that one.
I did find another 100 yards away, it stood, went to run into flight and just dropped, wrapped in a towel to bring home, while walking I felt a sharp pain in my left nipple... Bloody thing only got me with it's beak.
It has now been fed and watered and is crapping all over my shed until a rehabber takes it tomorrow.
08.30 this morning I was searching a park for a goose with fishing line round it's legs.
Was at Bristol railway station a few years ago eating a pasty and one of the swines was determined to snatch it. Every time it came in I fended it off, using increasing force. It only stopped when I finished eating and even then it would eyeball me from time to time to make sure I wasn’t eating anything else. Very persistent, determined animals always looking for an opportunity.
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