Omg! What can I do about psycho seagulls nesting on my roof?? Help!

[Yo_Yo]

We have some very hostile neighbours in the form of nesting seagulls on our roof. They swoop and try to attack me, the kids and cat if we are minding our own business in the garden. I can't let the kids play as I just had to chase one just above 2yr old old head!

It's my understanding that they get aggressive this time of year as they have babies (their baby is as big as them now!)

Also that they can't be moved (illegal as against wildlife act in UK) and you can't interfere with nesting birds..but how do I get them to leave us alone?!

 

[RaspberryK]

I'd be tempted to squirt them with a hose when they attack you, or borrow a large dog. Lol.
Xx

 

[lau86]

I don't know but I agree with them being aggressive, the other week when we were on holiday on came down and stole my ice cream from behind, It felt like I'd had a very hard punch!
Maybe try and google is there some kind of smell they don't like? Or raspberrys hose idea?

 

[sparkle_1979]

I'd find some way law or not. You should be able to let your children play in the garden without being attacked

I'd send husband up there in a ladder to remove the nest

My husband got attacked by one for a pie, bird one husband nil

It was funny but not funny for you xx

 

[LeannieB]

Bless you. It's scary isn't it! Last summer or maybe one before( can't remember) a baby seagull got stuck in our pool. It's an above the ground one and we had drained it to clean it out. I couldn't reach to get it out and my OH was at work. There was loads of seagulls circling us from above and swooping. The boys couldn't even go outside as they would swoop us straight away. It was awful. I phoned the local council and they gave me a number to call but they said there was nothing they could do as the baby seagull wasn't injured and we would just have to wait until the seagull was big enough to fly on its own. No way could we wait for that it was the summer and I couldn't even hang the washing out. Eventually one of my brothers friends wore a hard hat and got the seagull out. There was about 10 seagulls swooping him. Hope you manage to get something sorted soon x

 

[Yo_Yo]

Lol-I like the dog idea...can I put the dog on the roof?!

It's like the more you try to frighten them off (waving hands when they swoop etc) the more psycho they get! I've resorted to walking up the garden with the washing basket on my head when getting the washing in.

It's like the film The Birds!

 

[RaspberryK]

Omg that film! Scary xx

 

[Gaige]

Hi,
I don't know if this helps you at all but it's taken from a forum post on the RSPB website:

Any action that prevents a bird from nesting and producing young in any one season will contribute to further declines in the species. Yes, roof-nesting gulls can be a big nuisance in some situations (more so for some people than others, which is an added complexity in the issue), but there are ways and means of preventing gulls from nesting on roofs where conflict can occur in the first place rather than allowing them to choose their nesting site and then have the nests destroyed. The best deterrent is dependent on the physical size, shape etc of the site, and advice can be sought from companies that specialise in bird deterrents, and from the local council who should also be able to advice on deterrents. Those clauses in the Wildlife and Countryside Act that allow gull nests removed to protect public health do also stipulate that such methods can only be used if non-lethal methods have been tried and failed, and that the threat to public health is great enough to warrant such extreme action. It also needs to be pointed out that nuisance and damage to property are not legal reasons for nest removal or killing of chicks or adults. The only reason is public health, and even there, a specific one-off licence from Defra or one of the devolved environment departments is needed before lethal action can be resorted to, especially if killing of chicks and/or adult herring gulls is proposed. Anyone wanting to kill gulls of any age or remove nests needs to consult the specific terms and conditions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act licences before doing anything in order to ensure that any action taken is legal, and preferably also consulting the statutory conservation agency for further advice.

And here's the thread if you want to check it out:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/f/3070/t/29130.aspx

 

[Abz1982]

How big is your garden?
I do think you should give the RSPB a call and mention they are attacking the children, as that might be move to have the nest moved.
I think for next year some Anti Bird spikes might be in order!

 

[Yo_Yo]

Gaige-I know I can't do anything to disturb them, I just want to find a way to get them to leave us alone!

God knows why herring gulls are protected though! They are rats with wings in my eyes!

 

[Yo_Yo]

How big is your garden?
I do think you should give the RSPB a call and mention they are attacking the children, as that might be move to have the nest moved.
I think for next year some Anti Bird spikes might be in order!

Garden is quite big, may call rspb but I think the birds have more rights than us in this situation.

 

[Gaige]

Gaige-I know I can't do anything to disturb them, I just want to find a way to get them to leave us alone!

God knows why herring gulls are protected though! They are rats with wings in my eyes!

It did say that you could contact your local council to ask them for advice which might be an idea; especially if you're having to chase them away from your little ones!
(I think that might constitute "protecting public health" as well)