Gulls have become a real pest in recent years, I've heard many stories of children and even grown adults being attacked by them for their food.

I don't think that culling the gulls like some county councils have started doing is the solution to this problem though. They are amazing birds; people don't realise just how big they are. Their wing span is huge, and it seems a terrible shame to shoot them. Surely there must be some other way!

Gulls have become a common pest in many peoples eyes, and culling is the usual and most effective way of keeping pests numbers down.

That dosen't mean it's right......

I understand the reasoning by the councils but I don't think culling is a very humane way of keeping gull numbers down. I really don't agree with killing any animal just to make life easier for ourselves.

I'd prefer that they weren't shot, too.

I've seen them behaving quite aggressively around chip stands, hovering a few feet in front of us wanting to be fed.

In my own opinion, culling of gulls by shooting of roof nesting birds is not a solution of the problem. Do you think there's other solution for that aside from killing them?

This is most interesting.  I have not heard of this, as I live in the United States.  It is illegal to kill gulls in the United States.  Many states (California, Utah) have had statutes to protect gulls for years, because gulls were used to scavenge garbage.

I'll have to look into this.  Gulls can be aggressive and noisy, but because they are generally confined to the coastal areas of the States, many people have never seen one if they happen to live in a state like Kansas or Ohio (in the middle of the United States).

Kingfisher

I think the difference is that in the UK the numbers of gulls in fairly crowded coastal towns has grown dramatically in recent years and perhaps they have had to become bolder to survive against increased competition for food.

There is no problem that I know of away from coastal areas though. We see gulls regularly here in Surrey and I've never known any cause any problems here.

Yes, I can see where the aggressiveness of the gulls could be a huge problem.  The Great Black-backed Gull (also found in the Eastern United States) is the largest of all gulls, capable of swallowing puffins and other small seabirds whole!  They are predators, and scavengers both.  I also know that gulls are capable of quite a vicious peck, and probably could cause injury with their strong wings.

Perhaps waxing of the eggs, if the eggs are easily located?

Kingfisher