War on gulls

Published 21 Jul 2010 14:30

In an attempt to curb the number of seagull attacks at council offices in Clydebank, the birds' eggs are being replaced by plastic replicas.

In previous years there have been problems with seagulls swooping on members of the public and staff - and even pecking them- at the Rosebery Place building.

Mother gulls are very protective when they have young in their nests, and will be aggressive towards anyone coming too close.

As chicks often fall from the nest to the ground, people passing by the chick can be subject to aggressive swooping or even attack.

West Dunbartonshire Council hopes the egg replacement project will not only stop seagull aggression this year but will curb the gulls' population for the future.

A spokeswoman said: "West Dunbartonshire Council has been trialling an egg replacement method to prevent chicks hatching on public buildings and buildings within Clydebank and Dumbarton where it is safe to access the nest.

"The eggs are replaced - at an early stage, before the chick has developed - with fake plastic eggs which resemble the real ones.

"The gulls will sit on them until they eventually give up after some time.

"We've been trialling this on the roofs of Garshake Road and Rosebery Place.

"The fact they don't have chicks prevents their aggressive behaviour and through time will - in theory - lead to a reduction in the local gull population.

"It's a long term sustainable humane method of control."

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This article appeared in Clydebank Post 21 Jul 10

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