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Original poster

Seagulls

152 replies

Desperatetime · 01/08/2023 09:40

They appear to be in the news alot lately giving them a bad press are they really as bad as they are made out to be I've been to the seaside but ever witnessed any of what the press says.

OP posts:
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6
Barrell · 01/08/2023 09:48

Yes. I recently had some chips outside a fish and chip shop in a coastal location and one by one they started circling, like feathered pterodactyls, pretending they were just having a wander around and definitely not ready to swoop at the merest hunt of a dropped chip.

The noise, the wingspan, the aggression, the gang mentality.

Absolute bastards.

Summersunshineplease · 01/08/2023 09:52

They are awful.
We can't have a picnic in our local parks without food trying to be pinched by one

Live on the coast and they are not just at the beach

Kirstyshine · 01/08/2023 09:54

A seagull cannoned into my back - I thought it was a bloke playing catch nearby who’d run backwards - and nicked my ice cream, flew off with the cone held so the ice cream didn’t drop out. It was amazing.

TwelfthGiraffe · 01/08/2023 09:55

I once saw a seagull push someone off a mobility scooter. No word of a lie.

Original poster
Desperatetime · 01/08/2023 09:56

Gosh I'm amazed

OP posts:
GasPanic · 01/08/2023 10:04

There's a video on youtube of a seagull eating a rat.

Or something.

TeeBee · 01/08/2023 10:06

I live by the coast. They're an absolute bloody nightmare. I'm booking in a hawker to get rid of them from my roof. They wake my son up every morning. Vermin.

Whatajokr · 01/08/2023 10:09

Those of us who live by the coast will tell you they're a PITA. Flying rats made worse by the holiday makers who think it's fun to feed them a chip or two.

I've lost count of the things they've swooped down and stolen out of mine, or my children's, hands. Bloody hurts as well when they crash into you.

trevthecat · 01/08/2023 10:16

We've got 2 babies on our garage roof. Been there weeks. They are fine but the parent(s) bloody relentless. Screaming all the time, diving at anyone in the back garden. 2 others wondering round in our street, nearly being run over and parents going mad!

Alltheusernamesaretakennow · 01/08/2023 10:21

Evil things - shitehawks (my boss calls them!)

Sigmama · 01/08/2023 10:22

They are fine looking birds mind

Ultraviolet85 · 01/08/2023 10:22

There’s an old man who feeds them in my road. Daily. Wish he’d p off! Can be about 20 sometimes swooping into his front garden.

Honeyandwine · 01/08/2023 10:24

Bloody love seagulls.

gingerguineapig · 01/08/2023 10:30

They are really predatory. I have no idea why they are protected, they are just annoying vermin - flying rats.

My mum has a friend who was eating an ice cream and one came to relieve her of it, and in so doing scratched her cheek. It apparently got horribly infected.

You have to be so careful if you want to eat an ice cream (and even more so if eating fish and chips) outside in a seaside town.

AdaColeman · 01/08/2023 10:31

There is concern that Red Kites will become picnic pests like seagulls. They are scavengers, and in areas where there are a lot of them, people have been advised not to feed them.

SunThroughTheCloudsAt6am · 01/08/2023 10:38

People are bloody idiots and feed them on purpose (see also Red Kites as Ada says)

Mind you, at my Uni, even the Sparrows would dive-bomb you if you sat outside with a sandwich.

Seagulls though, they're big, and strong and eat anything (forget feasting on a rat, I've seen them feasting on other dead seagulls!)

Leftinlimbo · 01/08/2023 10:44

Seagulls have only become a problem in recent years for two main reasons:

  1. Their main souce of food has been depleted due to over-fishing
  2. People eating in the open-air are an easy target and the seagulls have learned to adapt to eat fish and chips, sandwiches and ice-cream.

Can't blame the seagulls for fighting back!

Malbecfan · 01/08/2023 10:59

Dreadful things. My DDs have worked in the ice cream shop by the beach and despite large signs warning of the presence of the flying bastards, every day some kid would be back crying that they nicked their ice cream. DDs used to tell punters to stay close to the buildings til they finished so the gulls can't swoop in, but people assumed they were immune.

Once when DD2 was walking into work, a seagull swooped on her and tried to grab her phone. She had the presence of mind (or her latent thuggery) to punch it and managed to hang onto the phone. The beach cafe where she is currently working has lots of bunting up and some static kites in the shape of large black birds which have so far deterred gull attacks. Can't stand them.

cbuew9 · 01/08/2023 11:03

They're awful...years ago when my daughter was younger we went out for the day to a local attraction. We were eating our sandwiches when a seagull swooped down and pinched the sandwich out of my daughter's hand, cutting her finger in the process making it bleed. She started crying so I said "let's go and get you an ice cream to cheer you up".
She was then eating her ice cream when another seagull swooped down and pinched the whole ice cream out of her hand!
Now as an adult she doesn't like seagulls much...

Lindy2 · 01/08/2023 11:03

I like seagulls. After all the sea and the beach is naturally more theirs than humans'. We have invaded their habitat and in return they have moved into ours.

You have to keep your wits about you if you're carrying food. I watched a poor lady get mugged for 2 ice creams yesterday but walking across a brwach, waving 2 icec reams about isn't a wise move. More stealth is needed!

Beenhereforever1978 · 01/08/2023 11:09

AdaColeman · 01/08/2023 10:31

There is concern that Red Kites will become picnic pests like seagulls. They are scavengers, and in areas where there are a lot of them, people have been advised not to feed them.

I remember hearing a marvellous report on the radio about the ones in Henley, who have taken to landing on people's lunch. One particularly startled respondent ended up with one in her lap whilst she was attempting to eat a salad whilst sitting on a bench.

I do like a gull in the right setting. But the yelling drives me up the wall.

Chippychipsandgravy · 01/08/2023 11:12

Chippies?

Seagulls
FictionalCharacter · 01/08/2023 11:13

Leftinlimbo · 01/08/2023 10:44

Seagulls have only become a problem in recent years for two main reasons:

  1. Their main souce of food has been depleted due to over-fishing
  2. People eating in the open-air are an easy target and the seagulls have learned to adapt to eat fish and chips, sandwiches and ice-cream.

Can't blame the seagulls for fighting back!

Exactly. Their natural food is in shorter supply, and humans walk around outdoors holding food that’s easy to grab. Humans also throw their leftover food on the ground and into overflowing bins. Gulls are just wild animals getting food in the easiest way possible.

TetherMetherPip · 01/08/2023 11:13

I’ve been divebombed by a seagull for the sandwich I was eating…

Pottyberry · 01/08/2023 11:13

Leftinlimbo · 01/08/2023 10:44

Seagulls have only become a problem in recent years for two main reasons:

  1. Their main souce of food has been depleted due to over-fishing
  2. People eating in the open-air are an easy target and the seagulls have learned to adapt to eat fish and chips, sandwiches and ice-cream.

Can't blame the seagulls for fighting back!

This! They are trying to survive, as living things do. People who move to the coast/visit the coast must know there will be seagulls and they will want food.

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