herring gull

Resorts under siege by seagulls: Inside raging war between locals and 'epidemic' of dive-bombing birds which steal ice creams and force postal workers to dress in disguise or don helmets for safety

It's 9am in a quiet west country housing estate and on rooftops everywhere the bane of Royal Mail is eying up potential targets.

Known as 'The Club', the colony of herring gulls has become so aggressive towards postal workers that some deliveries are being suspended without notice.

Residents say the nesting birds dive-bomb anyone they consider a threat to their young, claiming at least one postman has been spotted donning a safety helmet before venturing into the Poldhu Road and Cardinnis Gardens area of Liskeard, Cornwall.

Another is said to have swapped his red uniform for 'beige and grey colours' in the belief that red antagonises the gulls.

There have also been reports of one drawing blood after swooping to peck a postman on the head.

Herring gulls pictured in Port Isaac, Cornwall, dive-bombing for tourists' ice creams and food

A seagull tries to swoop in on an unsuspecting walker's ice cream in Port Isaac, Cornwall

The bird pecks at the woman's ice cream as residents describe their town as having a 'seagull epidemic'

A seagull manages to take off with a healthy swipe of this person's pie in Cornwall

There have been reports of seagulls drawing blood after they swoop in for people's food

Known as 'The Club', the colony of herring gulls, pictured here in Liskeard, Cornwall, has become so aggressive towards postal workers that some deliveries are being suspended without notice

Some locals blame their neighbours for encouraging the birds to stay - either by deliberately feeding them or failing to put bags of rubbish into council-supplied wheely bins.

But others believe the gull menace has simply intensified as the size of the colony has grown to over 60 birds.

They claim they face daily disruption from aerial attacks and showers of gull excrement on paths, gardens and cars.

Supermarket worker Sarah Hunkin, 45, said: 'I've lived here 17 years and I've never seen it as bad as this.

'This used to be a nice, tidy estate. Now the mess from the gulls is everywhere.

'In the breeding season it is really hard to sleep. You hear their feet tapping across your roof and they screech in the middle of the night

'They nest on roofs and when their young fall to the ground it sets them off. They see anyone approaching as a threat and they fly to the rescue.

'It's reached the point where you don't even want to walk out to your car in case you come under attack.'

Residents say the nesting birds, pictured, dive-bomb anyone they consider a threat to their young, claiming at least one postman has been spotted donning a safety helmet

The chaos in happening on Poldhu Road and Cardinnis Gardens area of Liskeard, Cornwall

Supermarket worker Sarah Hunkin, 45, said: 'I've lived here 17 years and I've never seen it as bad as this'

Some locals blame their neighbours for encouraging the birds to stay - either by deliberately feeding them or failing to put bags of rubbish into council-supplied wheely bins

The gull menace has simply intensified as the size of the colony has grown to over 60 birds

Local gardening contractor Justin Pote said: 'They fly in low like they're bombing you. It feels like the council should rename this the Barnes-Wallis estate.

'Once the babies have hatched everything goes quiet for a few weeks. Then the young start leaving the rooftop nests and fall to the ground.

'If you happen to be nearby when that happens, watch out. The parents will see you as a threat and attack.'

But Mr Pote, 50, added: 'This is a people problem, not a gull problem.

'Everyone has been given wheely bins but some still persist in putting out food waste in plastic bags. The gulls rip those to shreds - it's easier to go for leftovers than to catch fish and crabs.

'We had three breeding seasons last year and so that has obviously increased numbers.'

A woman visiting her elderly mother said she had repeatedly asked Cornwall Council to help deter the birds from nesting.

'The council isn't interested even though this is affecting people's daily lives,' she said.

'Last week I met one postman who told me he'd swapped his normal uniform for neutral colours - grey and beige - because he'd been told gulls don't like red.

'It seems ridiculous that it has come to this.'

Rose Dawson with her Chihuahua which was attacked by seagulls. She found her beloved chihuahua Ceri barking madly at a gull which was 'on her back in the garden'

A woman visiting her elderly mother said she had repeatedly asked Cornwall Council to help deter the birds from nesting

Charlie Ball, who has lived on the estate for ten years, said: 'In the past, one postman was left with blood running down his face after a gull attack.

'And this year we've seen one wearing a mask and helmet on his rounds.

'Some people bring the problem on themselves. One woman puts out a plate of food for them at 5pm every afternoon.'

Rose Dawson, 78, told how she found her beloved chihuahua Ceri barking madly at a gull which was 'on her back in the garden'.

She said: ' It did upset Ceri. But she soon got over it.

'The gulls don't really bother me. I use a brolly to get from the door to my sunshade in the garden. That seems to work.

'I do wonder if they get to know us locals and decide we're not a problem. They are marvellous parents. They'll do anything to protect their young.'

One study, commissioned by Liskeard Town Council six years ago, counted 151 seagulls in the town - almost all herring gulls

In his report bird expert Peter Rock said they were particularly attracted to asbestos roofs - common in the Poldhu district - because these provided stability for nests

One resident, who asked not to be named, said the community had been deeply divided by the presence of the gulls.

'There's talk that one guy is threatening to shoot them with a BB gun,' he said

The seabirds, who have nested in large numbers on a number of residential streets aggressively protect their youngsters when they begin to hatch and leave the nest

In a letter to residents last week Royal Mail's customer operations manager for the Liskeard depot, Ryan Lean, wrote: 'As you may be aware, we are currently experiencing some difficulties safely delivering to you and your neighbour'

'The purpose of this letter is to firstly advise you of the issues we are experiencing but also to assure you that we will continue to attempt deliveries every day.'

One study, commissioned by Liskeard Town Council six years ago, counted 151 seagulls in the town - almost all herring gulls.

In his report bird expert Peter Rock said they were particularly attracted to asbestos roofs - common in the Poldhu district - because these provided stability for nests.

He said any large collection of urban gulls - known as 'The Club' - saw roofs as 'a place where they can rest in their down-time from other duties such as incubation without having to face problems of territoriality.'

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: 'The consistent delivery of mail and the safety of our employees are two of our highest priorities. We have written to residents to assure everyone that deliveries continue to be made every day.

'However, on occasions where it is not possible to make a delivery safely, we will attempt to deliver the following day.'

Postal workers in rural Cornish town say they're living in fear from attacks by divebombing seagulls who have left them 'running for their lives' on their routes

Postal workers in a rural Cornish town have said they are living in fear after a string of attacks by divebombing seagulls.

The Royal Mail has been forced to apologise to locals in Liskeard for delayed deliveries after the birds were spotted 'sweeping' towards posties from rooftops in the area.

Residents of the market town have been advised to either wait for deliveries to arrive when the seagulls are not as aggressive, or let the Royal Mail know an alternative address that post can be sent to.

The Royal Mail added that the birds seemed to be protecting their young and viewed some people as a possible threat.

One local agreed that the animals were being selective about who they picked on, pointing out that they also targeted council workers.

Seagulls pictured on a roof in Liskeard, Cornwall. The birds have been swooping down at postal workers, forcing them to delay deliveries

The Royal Mail has been forced to apologise to locals in Liskeard for delayed deliveries after the birds were spotted 'sweeping' towards posties from rooftops in the area

The Royal Mail added that the birds seemed to be protecting their young and viewed some people as a possible threat

She told Cornwall Live: 'They don't attack me for some reason, but the posties and any council workers are running for their lives.

'My next-door neighbour who's elderly got swooped and knocked over, but he admits he also throws stuff at them.

In the Royal Mail's letter, dated June 20, Ryan Lean, customer operations manager for the Liskeard depot, said: 'As you may be aware, we are currently experiencing some difficulties safely delivering to you and your neighbour due to seagulls in the area, swooping at delivering staff in order to protect their young.

'The purpose of this letter is to firstly advise you of the issues we are experiencing but also to assure you that we will continue to attempt deliveries every day.

'I appreciate this is not ideal. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this may cause but whilst Royal Mail is committed to providing a consistent daily delivery to addresses, we do place the highest priority on the safety of our employees.

'Rest assured that we will be monitoring the situation on a daily basis with a view to resuming normal service to you and your neighbour as soon as possible.'

This is not the first time that pesky birds have thwarted postal workers.

In 2019, people living on a road in Argyll and Bute did not have their post delivered for weeks after a series of seagull attacks on posties, with one even twisting his ankle as he attempted to escape the mischievous birds in Helensburgh.

David McArthur, a local, said that postal workers had largely been able to avoid injury by 'staying in their van and beeping the horn for us to run out and get the post'.

Two years earlier, a street in Hereford was compared to a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's classic horror movie The Birds when the animals began dive-bombing passersby.

One local agreed that the animals were being selective about who they picked on, pointing out that they also targeted council workers

In 2017 a street in Hereford was compared to a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's classic horror movie The Birds

One postman even reported that a bird had flown straight into his head.

Postman Hard Hat: Frustrated homeowners call for posties to be given protective headwear after violent seagulls were blamed for Royal Mail delivery delays

Posties should be given 'hard hats' to protect themselves from seagulls, residents have demanded after the birds were blamed for Royal Mail delays.

Households have stopped receiving post due to attacks by the birds and have now called for postal workers to be issued protection.

Earlier this year, footage emerged showing locals in a posh London neighborhood who were being attacked by violent crows.

Now, swooping seagulls are reportedly attacking postmen in a Cornish town and desperate residents are appealing for solutions - such as issuing the workers with 'hard hats'.

They have now been advised not to blame workers for delayed mail - but the birds, who are a protected species trying to protect their young.

Seagulls pictured on a roof in Liskeard, Cornwall. The birds have been swooping down at postal workers, forcing them to delay deliveries

Households have stopped receiving Royal Mail post due to attacks by the birds (stock image)

The Royal Mail added that the birds seemed to be protecting their young and viewed some people as a possible threat

Householders in Liskeard have even received a letter from the Royal Mail warning them that postmen have been having 'difficulties delivering mail safely' - because seagulls have been swooping them.

So residents have been given two options: either wait for another time when seagulls are not in nesting season, or choose another address for their mail to be delivered to

Royal Mail assured customers they would be 'monitoring the situation on a daily basis'.

It said: 'As you may be aware, we are currently experiencing some difficulties safely delivering to you and your neighbour due to seagulls in the area, swooping at delivering staff in order to protect their young.

'The purpose of this letter is to firstly advise you of the issues we are experiencing but also to assure you that we will continue to attempt deliveries every day.'

'Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this may cause but whilst Royal Mail is committed to providing a consistent daily delivery to addresses, we do place the highest priority on the safety of our employees.'

But frustrated residents have taken to social media to suggest ideas and express their thoughts on the situation.

One wrote: 'Issue the post people with hard hats!'

Another said: 'I reckon the seagulls have stolen our postie.'

One resident suggested that it would be best to shoot the animals.

They wrote: 'Rare they are they are not, aggressive they are. They made a woman's lips bleed the other day as they stole her pasty. I for one have no issue shooting them.

Nothing ruins a relaxing trip to the seaside quite like a seagull swooping in and stealing your chips.

Holidaymakers warned to keep an eye out for dive bombing seagulls stealing food - with the winged menaces bolder in the south of Britain than those up north

Holidaymakers heading south for a staycation should look up – as seagulls are more likely to steal your ice cream.

A study found that gulls in the south of Britain, especially in the West Country, are bolder than those up north.

The greater presence of holidaymakers, with their ice creams and fish and chips, made the birds less timid, because the chances of being able to snatch some food are higher.

Seagulls are less nervous in the south, where they are willing to get closer to people.

A study found that gulls in the south of Britain, especially in the West Country, are bolder than those up north

In Brixham, the popular Devon fishing town on the so-called ‘English riviera’, seagulls get within 11.8 metres - less than 40 feet - of people.

In Plymouth, where the city offers even more fast food options, the gulls approach at an average distance of 11.7 metres.

But further north, in Glasgow, they stay twice as far away, on average, at more than 80 feet, or 25 metres, from people.

In Shetland, this increases to almost 74 metres - more than 240 feet.

Dr Ruedi Nager, a seabird researcher from the University of Glasgow said: ‘There is a geographical difference in how bold seagulls are.

‘They are more willing to approach people in the south and more reluctant in the north.

‘In the south there are more pasties and fish and chips being eaten, so there are more gains for seagulls.

In Brixham, pictured, the popular Devon fishing town on the so-called ‘English riviera’, seagulls get within 11.8 metres - less than 40 feet - of people

Seagulls remember where they ate fish and chips and travel dozens of miles to visit specific shops, researchers find

Researchers found herring gulls make a beeline for a specific shop in Scotland
Some fly to the Wee Hurrie from around 100 miles from the Inner Hebrides
British Trust for Ornithology researchers used GPS technology to track the gulls

The birds, say scientists, remember where they last dined on fish and chips and flock back from dozens of miles away.

Researchers found herring gulls make a beeline for a specific chip shop in the town of Troon on Scotland's west coast.

Some fly to the Wee Hurrie from around 100 miles from the Inner Hebrides.

Researchers at the British Trust for Ornithology used GPS technology to tag gulls, which can live for around 12 years

Herring gulls use a range of habitats, including grassland, farmland and urban areas, as would be expected for a species that can survive on a wide variety of different foods, from chips to earthworms and freshly caught fish.

The data revealed that several of the gulls from Scotland visited the Wee Hurry Chippy in Troon, while an individual tagged on Lady Isle in the Clyde even took a trip to the Ayr Racecourse.

However, there was an overall preference for intertidal habitats, where herring gulls are likely to feed on mussels and worms.

Dr Nina O'Hanlon, study author, said: 'We downloaded data from at least five individuals at the chip shop.

'Some of the individuals were making repeated visits.'

Schoolgirls face a Hitchcock-style nightmare as murder of crows launch a wave of attacks on the walk to school in south London suburb

James Allen's Girls' School issued a warning to remain vigilant of crow attacks
Comes as one homeowner nearby suffered 'small puncture wounds to the head'

Parents whose children walk to school might issue them some road safety advice or a 'stranger danger' reminder.

But pupils at a leading private girls' school have had a more unconventional warning: Remain vigilant in case of attack from a gang of … crows.

In an echo of the Hitchcock movie The Birds, James Allen's Girls' School has even advised pupils to avoid one nearby street in the expensive south London suburb of Dulwich Village after a homeowner suffered 'about half a dozen small puncture wounds to the head' and another had to fight off the crows with an umbrella.

The £22,000-a-year school is the oldest private girls' school in London and former pupils include author Anita Brookner and double Oscar nominee actress Sally Hawkins.

(Stock Photo) Pupils at a leading private girls' school have had a more unconventional warning: Remain vigilant in case of attack from crows

In an echo of the Hitchcock 1963 movie The Birds (pictured), James Allen's Girls' School has had a warning to remain vigilant of the crows

An email to parents from the personal assistant to the school's director of operations warns: 'We've had a note from a concerned resident about crow attacks.'

It adds: 'There are two large crows protecting a nest of fledglings and they are attacking anyone who walks along the road.

'The resident says he was attacked, resulting in about half a dozen small puncture wounds to the head, another neighbour had to use an umbrella to get out of their house, and other residents have also been attacked.'

The school warned pupils to avoid walking or cycling down East Dulwich Road – where the average house costs more than £1.5million – 'especially towards the bottom' until the fledglings have flown the nest.

The email directs parents to a website with information about crow attacks, which says they are rare and that the worst outcome is likely to be 'a few cuts or scratches'.

The website, Birdfact, gives tips on how to avoid being attacked by a crow and explains that the birds are 'about as intelligent as a seven-year-old' child.

It says they are likely to attack only during breeding season, when they become highly territorial and will swoop and dive to scare away adversaries.

Tuesday 2 July 2024

Seagulls Terrorize Tourist Resorts