A special place... The Isles of Scilly are one of only two places in England where Manx Shearwaters breed
Under threat...The Isles of Scilly hold 3,000 fewer pairs of breeding seabirds than 25 years ago
Today Radio Scilly 107.9fm interviewed Jaclyn Pearson about protecting all seabirds, and in particular – gulls. It is the time of year when gull chicks are fledging and people question what actions can be taken to help the chicks and avoid parent gulls.
- It is a short period of time that the chicks may be wobbling around on your roof-tops making the parent gulls more attentive (as they are such good parents, and want to protect them )
- It is unlikely the parent gulls will ‘dive bomb’ you – they may carry out ‘flyby’ to let you know the chick is there
- For this short period, give the gulls time and space, they are a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981
- If they are a nuisance, you can consider options to prevent the gulls nesting next year, but you can only do this in the autumn, as their nests are protected.
- Improve waste management practices so the gulls instead forage for natural food (fish) and eventually will move out of urban environments to natural coastal areas.
- Enjoy the behaviour and sights and sound of these costal birds, islands would be a much poorer place without them!
Also read more here
Radio Scilly presenter Will Lethbridge interviews Jaclyn at the studio.
