Seagulls are getting worse, claims councillor

May 14 2010 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Friday

DUMFRIES is arming itself for the 2010 battle with seagulls as a councillor insists they have returned with a “vengeance”.

An egg and nest removal swat team are now on hand for sites around the town.

But Councillor Andrew Wood (pictured) believes the problem is worse than ever.

He said: “I was parked up in Irish Street the other day and you can see them swooping down and there seems to be more of them this year.

“The gulls have returned with a vengeance.

“We need to do something which would have a lasting affect as what we did last year hasn’t worked as well as it should.

“We need to bring in tougher hawks into the high street and do something to make the gulls’ eggs infertile.”

Dumfries has a long-running issue with the problem birds. Every summer, residents report being dive-bombed and having food stolen from their hands.

Last year, the authority spent £50,000 on having a falcon in the High Street to scare the gulls away. But in December it was admitted that the bird of prey plan failed – after seagull numbers went up.

Another £42,000 has been made available to continue the nest and egg removal programme.

Yesterday, a council spokesman said: “The council is undertaking a programme of egg and nest removals from affected residential and commercial properties again this year, with the aim of reducing the number of gulls in the town.

“Last year 671 nests and a total of 1,535 eggs were removed from around Dumfries and the council is keen to build on that success during the current breeding season.

“The egg and nest removals should decrease the numbers of gulls in the town making the remaining birds feel less confident about nesting.”

The service is free for Dumfries and Heathhall and anyone looking for more information should look on the council’s website.