Seagull question

aliasojo

Is there any law that protects seagull nests/eggs from being disturbed or does that only apply to certain birds?

rising_from_the_ashes

I'm pretty sure it's illegal:( - got them around here too and they make such a mess.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/nestboxes/faqs.aspx
"Is it legal to move or destroy active birds' nests?

Almost certainly no. All birds their nests and eggs are protected by law: the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981. This makes it an offence, with certain exceptions, to deliberately take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. It is also illegal to take or destroy the egg of any wild bird".

AFAIK any bird that isn't a pet is "wild" so don't really understand this reference.

If it's really somewhere where it's getting in the way, the only thing I can suggest is contacting the RSPB and seeing if they can move it?

aliasojo

Actually, I'm not trying to get rid of one, I was trying to protect one. I know most people hate seagulls but I hate bad treatment to any living thing tbh, no matter how much they annoy some. :undecided

Pupnik

Yes it is illegal and rightly so- those of us who live in seaside towns might think they are everywhere but they have only moved to rooftops because their cliffside colonies have been disturbed.

Seagulls are not vermin and if people didn't leave rubbish in plastic bags all over the street they would not make such a mess! Where I am right now all waste is in wheelie bins and they can't get to it so it is clean and mess free. Next town over and it is a different story- no wheelie bins so come bin day and people put their black sacks out at night only to find them torn to pieces before the binman ever gets there. How can we blame the seagulls for feeding off the tons of food waste people chuck into the street every week?

Oliver14

It is illegal to take Gulls eggs. Though it is possible to obtain a license to collect them. A few are issued. Some chefs use them to a limited degree.