Gulls

Common Name:Gulls

Introduction:Gulls used to be associated more with coastal areas, but Herring Gulls , Lesser Blacker-backed Gull and Black -headed Gulls are now often found in large numbers way inland in the UK, both during the breeding and winter seasons

Biology:Herring and Lesser Black -backed Gulls are probably the most important pest species in Britain. their nest are usually made alongside other gulls in colonies, and once a breeding site is establish the gulls will return to it year after year. they start breeding when they are 5 years old and can lived up to 25 years. Eggs are laid in April to May with up to 3 eggs being laid at 2-3 days intervals . incubation for the 2 spices takes 28-30 days . their young take their first flight after 10 days but does not leave the nest area after 5-6 weeks which extend the breeding seasons to August

Control:there are a variety of proofing system available against gulls e.g. netting, parallel wires, spikes etc. Tactile scaring using an electric ledge deterrent is very effective against gull from settling on protected areas . Shooting of individual problem birds is sometimes appropriate as, due to slow reproduction and the population recovery rate is very slow . If adult gull are being shot when there are young in the nest then the young will need to be collected and dispatched to obviate any possibility of starvation. Gull are mostly very aggressive when there are young or eggs in the nest, eggs can be removed and replaced with dummy eggs in other to reduce the gull problem There are no traps for gulls.