Moray's urban gull problem

Communities in Moray blighted by gulls are unlikely to have the issue resolved any time soon.

Although it might not seem like it, gull numbers are actually on the decline nationally.

However, climate change has made it harder for them to find food at sea, attracting them increasingly into urban areas instead.

Members of the full Moray Council will discuss the issue this Wednesday.

In his report written ahead of the meeting, Jim Grant, the council's head of development services, stated that councillors receive a significant volume of informal complaints about gulls.

However he went on to state that extensive gull control measures carried out by another Scottish local authority had not succeeded in reducing their numbers.

Mr Grant said: "The surveys undertaken by Dumfries and Galloway Council have identified that the gull population has not reduced in over 10 years of nest and egg removal.

"It would appear that the various interventions have displaced the gulls’ breeding from the centre to more residential areas of the town.

"Even with such a programmed approach, other local authorities' gull control operations have demonstrated the interventions did not reduce the population and moved gulls around potentially into more sensitive areas."

Efforts last year to disrupt gulls during the breeding season in some areas of Elgin and Pilmuir in Forres saw 175 nests and 441 eggs removed, with 20 chicks taken to the Ellon Bird Sanctuary.

Elgin and Forres Common Good Funds gave £20,000 and £1300 respectively for the projects, with a further private donation of £2000 given to cover residential properties in Forres.

Efforts could go ahead in Elgin and Forres this year if external funding is available.

However the cost effectiveness of this measure is being questioned.

Mr Grant said: "It is questionable whether disruption provides value for money while other measures are constrained.

"While local members may consider this activity to provide some relief for residents such that common good and other external funding may reasonably be used for this purpose, this is not recommended by officers at present."

Instead, at Wednesday's meeting councillors will be asked to back a continued roll-out of gull-proof bins in Cullen, Elgin, Buckie, Forres and Findhorn at a cost of £44,000 over the next three years.

In addition, they will be asked to consider taking part in a survey covering the north-east and involving other local authorities.

The survey would take a detailed look at breeding locations, roosting, feeding and the habits of juveniles and adult birds over a four year period.

But at a total cost of £480,000 – £160,000 for Moray – it is not expected to start soon.

In addition, councillors will be asked to commit £2000 to an education programme to discourage people from feeding gulls and also promoting the use of nesting prevention measures.

Gulls typically start to mate in late March and April, while nest-building and egg-laying begins in early May.

Chicks are usually seen in June and fledge in early August.

It is illegal to intentionally or recklessly disturb a gull's nest.

However, the law recognises that control measures may be necessary in certain circumstances.

NatureScot's website states: "We are currently in the process of developing an online application system for gull public health and safety licences.

"We are not accepting licence applications for the 2022 gull nesting season until early 2022, when we anticipate the new online application system to be launched."

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