URGENT ADVICE NEEDED re baby herring gulls, destruction of nest, wildlife and countryside act.

[GullsHelp]

Hi all,

Sudden horrible situation has arisen re some baby seagulls on my dad's roof.

Dad is elderly and hates seagulls (lives in area where they are a nuisance) but is not generally cruel. His roof has two parts, a flat bit at the side and the main pitched roof. Me, husband and 6mo baby are visiting dad for a few weeks, been here 2 days.

Scaffolders arrived this morning to start re-roofing pitched section of dads roof, he spoke to them and they started work. We went out for a walk. Coming back from work and standing over the road looking at house, my hubbie has just noticed 3 fluffy baby seagulls and a distressed looking mother wandering about on the pitched part of the roof.

Mentioned to dad who shrugged it off and said 'it's ok as their nest is on the flat bit, only the pitched bit is being re-roofed.". Husband has had a look and the flat but is covered in scaffolding supplies, nest destroyed.

I am aware of the wildlife and countryside act, a law has been broken, the baby birds now have no where to go. Husband is passionate re animal rights and extremely angry as a type...wants me to call rspb/police to have birds rescued. I have said that this could mean my dad gets a massive fine.....(it appears that he was aware the nest was there...me and DH only just found out now).... DH says "I don't care, let him get a fine/criminal record" etc... and is threatening to call authorities on my dad !

I want to save the birds (Scaffolders still currently working, baby crying, husband stropping, dad has gone out as seems a bit scared of my DH's rage on this) but I need to try and find a way to do this without getting my dad in serious trouble.

Can anyone advice what I should do?!!! What is likely to happen if I call the council if RSPB?

Thanks all xxx

Do bird sanctuaries rescue seagulls? I assumed they would be more after falcons and swans and stuff.

I wouldn't approach the chicks, gulls are highly aggressive when protecting their young.
Phone RSPB or bird sanctuary and follow their advice. Gulls don't build particularly elaborate nests and as the chicks are hatched and mobile they may be OK without intervention.

Thanks all.

So I spoke to my dad and he spoke to the scaffolders who went up to check and the nest has NOT actually been destroyed but it IS on a bit of the roof that is being done. (A lot of confusion earlier...dear me).

Hubby away to check on birds now (had quite an evening with baby).....

Hubby called charity earlier who assured him they'd probably be fine but roofer may have his work cut out. I've also had a chat with my dad who has agreed to speak to the roofer about what can be done (loads of seagulls in this village, roofer is local, this can't be a new thing).

What a bleeding stressful afternoon! At least baby went to sleep without a fight just now.

Thanks for all your thoughts and advice. Remains to be seem what happens!