Seagulls are a familiar presence along British coastlines. However, despite their reputation for thriving in coastal towns, these birds are in serious decline, according to wildlife experts.
Herring gulls, the most common species found along the UK’s shores, have seen their population plummet by 72% over the past 55 years, placing them on the red list of British bird species of concern.
Rebecca Allen, a marine conservation officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, pointed out that this decline is not limited to Devon and Cornwall but is seen across the UK.
“The population has declined around Great Britain. It’s nearly three-quarters decline, since 1969, so that’s quite serious,” she said.
“It was about 200,000 breeding pairs… so that brings it down to about 50,000 breeding pairs.”
Other gull species, such as the black-headed gull, common gull, Mediterranean gull, lesser black-backed gull, and great black-backed gull, are also experiencing significant declines.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) attributes this sharp decline to the loss of nesting habitats and reduced food availability. Urban expansion and changes in food sources have made it harder for gulls to find enough to eat and places to safely breed.
The charity said: “Urgent action is needed to revive gulls’ natural habitats and our seas and help our globally important gull colonies and other seabirds recover.
“Nature is in crisis and finding ways to coexist together and restore nature at land and sea has never been more important.”
To help support gull populations, it is important to remember that seagulls, like all wild birds, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Cornwall Council and the RSPB have advised the public on how to coexist with gulls, emphasising that they should not be fed by humans.
Cornwall Council said: “We would remind people that, like all other wild birds, gulls are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
“That makes it an offence to intentionally injure or kill any gull, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.”
Gulls are resourceful and capable of finding food on their own, and human food only encourages aggressive behaviour.
People should also ensure their rubbish is properly disposed of to prevent gulls from scavenging, and eating near a wall can prevent gulls from snatching food.
Rebecca Allen noted that while gulls may sometimes appear aggressive, they typically only swoop at humans when protecting their nests.
Despite their mixed reputation, seagulls remain an integral part of seaside life.
“How would you know you’re at the seaside if you couldn’t hear or see a seagull?
“The world would be a poorer place without them” Rebecca Allen said.
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