Spring is the time of year when love, marriage and birth take over the bird world in a big way. In most cases I am all for letting them get at it and will even put up with some discomfort if they get in my way, perhaps the Herring Gull is an exception. Now don't get me wrong! I have nothing against the Herring Gull, in fact I think it could be considered a handsome bird in it light grey and white plumage trimmed with black. And if any one is to be blamed for the fact it has turned into a pest in certain areas it is modern society. This species seems to find little difference between scavenging along the shoreline and along our streets for food. Perhaps the remains of last night's take-away are a more constant supply of food than whatever the sea washes up.

Where the real trouble starts is in its choice of nesting sites, more and more it is moving onto roofs in towns, and who can blame it. After all, with the increase in small pleasure craft it's traditional nesting sites (the islands off our coast) are subject to more and more disturbance. In urban areas it's first choice is a flat roof. This offers an undisturbed island surrounded by air (not water) and many even have a parapet to afford shelter. From a gull's point of view who needs an island. The trouble is that gulls by nature cause a smell though, in most cases, nature does it's job and cleans up after them. Unfortunately on roofs rain washes waste from the nest into gutters, down pipes and shores. If these get blocked an ungodly smell follows. This smell can occur at any time of the year even long after the gulls have finished nesting. The second problem with Herring Gulls nesting in a town is that some pairs can be aggressive and swoop frighteningly close to people, though with time this problem seems to be lessening.

If you want to keep gulls from nesting on your roof, the time to take action is before they settle in (if they have laid their eggs, I would read from the Irish Wildlife Act that except in exceptional circumstances it is illegal to disturb the nest). Possibly the best way to stop them nesting is to put a strong net with 15cm or so mesh about 30cm above the roof (if its weak they will be able to tear it out of their way). If the nest is behind a chimney, another of their favourite spots, a role of mesh wires drooped in behind the chimney is ideal. Perhaps the other answer is to let them nest and clean up annually after they have finished, clean out any old nesting material, gutters, down pipes and shores. A touch of disinfectant may be no harm.

Though Herring Gulls may cause problems they are also useful cleaners (scavengers) and in their own way probably do a lot more good than harm. The trouble starts when they come in contact with man. I know people who have wild gulls as regular visitors to be fed and I know people who would annihilate the species if they could. In truth the problems are caused by mans refuse and litter and by the design of our buildings as well as our encroachment on the Herring Gulls natural breeding areas.