General Discussion

Could the person or persons in the Firbank/Littleweek Rd area of Dawlish 

please stop feeding the gulls.They are becoming more aggresive and demanding

and my hope is they attack the people that are feeding them.  

Easier said than done. Go to the feed the ducks as a lot of people do and then the seagulls appear out of nowhere like an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

But look what happened to Tippi Hedron

Someone in that movie (The Birds) had their eyes pecked out, but I think it was by crows. The most frightening bit is when they are gathering on the childrens' climbing frame by the school house ready for when the children finish school. Available to watch on You Tube.

Is it illegal to shoot them on your own property as it is in general terms. I know you can with wild geese.

No it isn't, but only on your own land.

You are not allowed to shoot gulls - on your own land or otherwise!!! 

Can somebody please get clarification on this matter because Im sure you can if they are on your own land. I dont understand why they are protected as there nothing more than flying rats - vermin 

My point is would do-gooders stop messing with nature and stop feeding the gulls.

Beside the mess and noise they and their youngsters make it is only time before

someone gets hurt.

Some useful information can be found at http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/unwantedvisitors/gulls/thelaw.aspx

I think its safe to say you can't kill them or destroy their nests without the appropriate licence. 

@flo

          Thanks for the link, seems the twitchers have this one sewn up 100% protected. You cannot even destroy their nests.

Would people not to feed the gulls and its time their protection was reviewed.

When it was NOT acceptable to walk around outside eating a pasty and chips, the gulls would stay out at sea on the cliffs. Then it was pointless for them to come in town

This problem is made by the 'wonderful' new society we have. To me there is more of a problem in the mentioned rough pubs in town where you might get a glass bashed in your face! and 24.7 shopping for drink.  I stiill say the gulls can recognise a Wallace Arnold coach of visitors heading down Exeter Road for Dawlish ..'come on chaps it's feed time soon.. hey more chips'.  lol.

Have to share this as we're discussing the seagulls. Yesterday afternoon I was down by the Viaduct & a small group of bikers had obviously been to Bailey's & got their chips which they then proceeded to leave on the sea wall while they walked out on the jetty to look at the sea. By the time they got back only the chip papers remained & they were quite miffed. Of course, only visitors would do this.

Casandra. That reminds me of watching a family in the summer eating chips along by the Tourist Info..parents were allowing their children to feed the Seagulls with some chips. Soon a number of seagulls arrived...the family realised if they contunued feeding them they would have none to eat themselves! ..so they shewwed them away!! ..but the gulls didnt want to go!   Must be tough being a seagull knowing when you're wanted!.

For those on the Littleweek/Firbank Rd estate know who the seagull feeders 

are because the birds point them out.