Residents urged to discourage seagulls by keeping food waste off the streets

Hereford

info@thesite.co.uk

Site Designed By

Commatic Limited

Residents urged to discourage seagulls by keeping food waste off the streets

Residents are being urged to support the council’s ongoing campaign to tackle Herefordshire’s urban seagull population by making sure food waste is not left anywhere the birds can reach it.

In a bid to control numbers, for the past four years Herefordshire Council has appointed a specialist contractor to carry out humane nest and egg clearance within the April to August urban gull nesting season in the city of Hereford. Live birds and chicks however are never harmed and RSPB guidance is always adhered to.

Marc Willimont, acting head of environmental protection and licensing, said: “The programme of gull control is going successfully and thanks to support from Hereford City Council, who have agreed to pay half the costs, we are able to continue.

“It would help if both businesses and the public could report where the gulls are nesting so that we can direct our contractors to this location. Also it would help greatly if rubbish in bin liners was not left out too early before collection, as this allows the gulls to rip them open in search of food.”

Many seagulls tend to travel inland from coastal areas to scavenge for food, which they find in both agricultural fields and towns. Over recent years in the UK, seaside colonies have relocated into urban areas, where food can be plentiful and flat roofs provide them with excellent undisturbed nesting locations. Hereford is such a town, where many of its gulls have never seen the sea at all, other than when they migrate over it to fly to mainland Europe in our winter months. These are called urban gulls.

Even this trend is changing, as the past few years have seen increasing numbers of gulls choosing not to migrate and instead taking their chances by over-wintering in the UK’s towns and cities where there can be a constant supply of food and shelter. Across the UK, the growth of such populations has been estimated to be between five to 20 percent each year and as Hereford has an estimated population of between 400 to 500 breeding pairs, the city’s population could alarmingly increase to over a 1000 pairs if unchecked.

Councillor Patricia Morgan, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “The project has been widely supported by Hereford’s local businesses and residents, who have benefited from the council’s service which removes the gulls’ nests and eggs. This was echoed at a recent stakeholder forum which requested feedback from those mostly affected by the gulls”.

“Whilst we are confident that the number of nesting gulls are hopefully reducing and certainly not increasing, the final figures will not be known until later in the autumn.”

Top tips to discourage seagulls:
• Only put rubbish out on the day it is due to be collected and do not leave bin bags where seagulls can rip them open and feast on food waste. Where possible, store all rubbish in a secure container
• Do not drop food in the street, make sure that takeaway wrappers are put into bins and clear food leftovers from tables
• Discourage people from feeding seagulls. If you do see someone feed them, please explain the problems it can cause and how it can encourage their aggressive behaviour

Anyone who wishes to report a nest on their properties can contact Herefordshire Council on 01432 261761 or email info@herefordshire.gov.uk

Permalink: http://www.thesite.co.uk/viewnewsstory.asp?newsid=3531

Other Hereford News

Roll up, roll up for the Hereford May Fair
Posted: 22/04/2014 18:51:38
Hereford Seagull Control Programme Continuing
Posted: 07/04/2014 10:37:56
Greenway Opening
Posted: 28/11/2013 18:44:06
Closure of temporary car park
Posted: 24/09/2013 10:36:06
Garrick House multi-storey car park to re-open
Posted: 12/09/2013 16:19:56
Hereford Seagull control programme underway
Posted: 12/06/2013 22:48:26
Council to implement office car parking charges
Posted: 08/03/2013 16:55:11
Toucan crossing to be installed on the A49 in Hereford
Posted: 23/01/2013 17:40:06
Canoeing business up for grabs
Posted: 14/01/2013 11:03:23
2012 marks nineteen years for the Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair
Posted: 31/10/2012 10:13:01
Can you help to develop Hereford’s cycle network?
Posted: 31/10/2012 09:11:56
Funding granted to improve Hereford congestion points
Posted: 11/10/2012 11:52:17
Become an ‘Adventure Tot’ at Belmont Meadows
Posted: 20/09/2012 12:55:24
Lift and staircase closure at Garrick multi storey car park
Posted: 03/09/2012 17:21:25
Primary school’s new family friendly route
Posted: 06/08/2012 17:11:07
Herefordshire Council acquires Rockfield site for link road
Posted: 02/08/2012 11:58:42
Herefordshire Diamond Day a sparkling success
Posted: 14/07/2012 11:59:54
When Rural Media film makers met day services
Posted: 25/06/2012 15:26:51
Have your say on the Broad Street area development
Posted: 20/06/2012 20:09:27
School children learn crucial skills
Posted: 15/06/2012 12:01:19
Raising the flag to mark Armed Forces Day
Posted: 15/06/2012 12:00:07
Resurfacing works, East Street
Posted: 08/06/2012 14:24:45
The Hereford Bull on the Thames
Posted: 28/05/2012 21:04:34
Take One…bell
Posted: 28/05/2012 15:44:00
Royal acquaintance renewed - 50 years on
Posted: 18/05/2012 13:18:02
How do you ‘Choose how you move’?
Posted: 17/05/2012 13:08:34
How do you travel in Hereford?
Posted: 16/05/2012 13:45:33
Sponsors roll up to support Herefordshire Diamond Day
Posted: 11/05/2012 11:32:09
Calling all green fingers
Posted: 11/05/2012 10:52:06
Fostering recruitment road show comes to town
Posted: 11/05/2012 10:47:32
Hereford company to film Queen’s visit
Posted: 02/05/2012 12:04:14

Other News From Around The County

Ross-on-Wye - Council confirms the sale of The Chestnuts has been agreed
Posted: 01/02/2013 13:55:50
Ross-on-Wye - Aerospace visit represents next step in bringing new county jobs
Posted: 22/01/2013 14:47:27
Dilwyn - Case for Free School not proven
Posted: 21/12/2012 14:26:45
Ledbury - Ledbury toddlers enjoy Festival of Lights
Posted: 12/11/2012 17:20:38
Ross-on-Wye - New Street in Ross-on-Wye to be resurfaced
Posted: 04/09/2012 11:16:55
Ross-on-Wye - Temporary closure of entrance to Ross-on-Wye’s Red Meadow car park
Posted: 25/07/2012 11:48:49
Ledbury - Master’s House - “hard hat day”
Posted: 24/05/2012 17:35:56
Garway - Council backs new scheme to promote buses and businesses
Posted: 07/11/2011 15:09:45
Leominster - Get into the groove with popular storyteller
Posted: 01/11/2011 17:33:41
Leominster - Electric Blanket Testing
Posted: 27/10/2011 10:32:01
Ledbury - Children’s Centre to celebrate Diwali
Posted: 24/10/2011 13:31:49
Bromyard - Police object to Bromyard pub holding temporary event
Posted: 11/10/2011 12:00:51
Ledbury - Masters House to become hub for council services
Posted: 10/10/2011 12:18:20
Brimfield - New era for Delivered Library Services
Posted: 10/10/2011 12:17:28
Ross-on-Wye - Clocks to be repaired
Posted: 10/10/2011 12:15:30
Leominster - Little Bo Peep puppet show at Leominster Library
Posted: 10/10/2011 12:10:02
Ledbury - Herefordshire schools take on challenge to cut their energy use
Posted: 10/10/2011 09:08:39
Ross-on-Wye - Residents warned resurfacing works to be held in Ross
Posted: 29/09/2011 11:45:58
Weobley - Archaeology walks notch up 150th outing
Posted: 08/09/2011 20:40:32
Leominster - Car park to close for relining works
Posted: 30/08/2011 10:29:12
Dilwyn - Dilwyn School closure goes ahead
Posted: 23/08/2011 12:36:03

Back to main Hereford page