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Drunken Seagulls

(14 Posts)
Ana Wed 30-Jul-14 20:46:25

All species of gull are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Acts, which makes it difficult to control or cull them.

I agree they're a menace in seaside areas - DD has a real phobia about them since one stole a prawn sandwich right out of her hand when she was younger.

rosequartz Wed 30-Jul-14 20:28:16

ps one shit pooed on DH yesterday at the beach - supposed to be lucky so I suppose he should buy a lottery ticket!

rosequartz Wed 30-Jul-14 20:27:25

grin laughing at the drunken parrots.

Seagulls are a pest (rats with wings DH calls them!). I had my crab sandwiches stolen out of my hand by a group of them and DH had his icecream taken from his hand by one.

Apparently a GP in Dartmouth got into trouble a few years ago because he nailed one to a post in his garden as a warning to the others. I would say get rid of all the others as well!!
Sitting at a seafront cafe in Teignmouth a couple of years ago and saw they were swooping down onto recently vacated tables, taking food and knocking the crockery around.

People should NOT feed them, they are pests. Perhaps people are recycling more food these days, so there may not be so much available on the rubbish tips. They used to follow the ships and catch fish, but these days more are found inland.

grannyactivist Wed 30-Jul-14 14:12:08

I live in a seaside town where they are a real nuisance - especially when they have young. They become very aggressive and will attack people they think are too close to the fledgelings, causing one lady to have stitches to her head. When my children were small there were times when I discouraged them from playing in the garden because there were young gulls nearby.
They also snatch food from unwary consumers - my husband had a sausage roll taken from his hand a month back and a couple of days ago my grandson was lucky when a swooping herring gull bypassed his ice cream to grab (a larger) one from the lady next to him. (It was actually quite funny as he was so shocked I had to save his ice cream as it nearly fell from his hand.)

POGS Wed 30-Jul-14 13:53:46

I'll let the one that s--t on my shoulder in Great Yarmouth two weeks ago off then, now I know he was only sloshed and hadn't singled me out. grin.

Joan Wed 30-Jul-14 11:27:08

Well, we used to have lots of drunken birds around our previous home, which had a large corrugated car port roof, with a few saggy bits in it. An overhanging mulberry tree would shed berries on it, which fermented where the water gathered. The birds just loved the ensuing brew, so we ended up with inebriated parrots flying drunkenly around.

About seagulls - my ex sailor husband wasn't keen on them - sailors called them shite hawks. I'd never heard of them pigging out on flying ants though. You learn something new every day!

Nonu Wed 30-Jul-14 11:12:17

Apparently in Plymouth , officials have begun a campaign against the growing menace of attacks.

Targetting their efforts at known feeders of the birds !

Makes you think eh!

Nelliemoser Wed 30-Jul-14 11:05:46

Stupid people also feed them in seaside towns and they start attacking peoples food. They are nasty and aggressive and one B great big one knocked my ice ream out if my hands. angry sad

Mishap Wed 30-Jul-14 09:28:42

My OH was grumbling about the gulls, but now that I have been able reassure him that they are hoovering up the flying ants (which he hates) he has changed his tune!

Elegran Wed 30-Jul-14 09:18:00

I watched the other day as a whole load of small insects fluttered and bumbled around. Then the seagulls arrived and were pouncing on each one that fell to the ground. They must have been getting the flying ants Nonu posted about.

Nonu Wed 30-Jul-14 08:50:00

Don"t know why they call them seagulls as they are very often in town these days.
grin

Mishap Wed 30-Jul-14 08:45:34

The are all over the place here and we are a very long way from the sea! But the sound reminds me of holidays!

Galen Wed 30-Jul-14 08:44:52

We have two nests on adjoining neighbours roofs and they attack one another and us!
Nasty, vicious pests!

Nonu Wed 30-Jul-14 08:34:47

Are you getting fed up with the seagulls this year ? I sure am, they seem to be worse than ever. they are really ,really noisy, swooping around all over the show and just being a pain. Well here they are anyway !"

The Society of Biology think they have found the reason,apparently flying ants, due to the warm temperatures are leaving their nests early. The gulls have been gorging themselves and getting slightly drunk, as some ants produce formic acid.

So I have my answer now. Flippin" nuisances !!

[hmmm]