Concerns Raised Over Urban Gulls in Inverness
A councillor has stated that Inverness' urban gulls "have won" while expressing criticism of new strategies intended to manage the bird population.
Liberal Democrat Alasdair Christie highlighted that residents are unable to eat outdoors or even walk along pavements due to fears of gull attacks.
During a meeting on Monday, he remarked:
"We have given control over to the gulls."
A senior official responded by explaining that efforts would focus on discouraging the birds from inhabiting areas where they conflict with people. The official emphasized that Highland Council was "not anti-gull" and aimed for a "balanced approach."
Issues Caused by Urban Gulls
Urban gulls have been associated with dive-bombing pedestrians, scavenging from bins, and disturbing residents with their early morning calls.
Inverness Ness-side councillor Christie expressed concerns about the birds' impact on city life, stating:
"I see people that can't use the cafes, can't use the pavements. I see people in the bus queues who can't eat outside because of the gulls,"
Highland Council has proposed installing "gull-resistant" bins and employing audio and visual deterrents to prevent the birds from nesting on rooftops.
Council's Approach and Public Involvement
Senior environmental officer Eleanor Hood explained that the plan aims to eliminate urban food sources to encourage the birds to nest elsewhere.
"We are not anti-gull, we are looking for a balanced approach,"
Hood also noted the importance of cooperation from the public and local businesses in reducing the gull population.
"We can't do this alone,"
she said, adding that change would be gradual and
"not going to happen overnight."
Political Perspectives on the Gull Issue
Labour Inverness Central councillor Michael Gregson described the urban gull population as an "epidemic" that has "colonised our city."
Highland Alliance Inverness South councillor Duncan McPherson referred to the gulls' 32 to 35-year lifespan as a "prison sentence" for residents.
He asked: "Do the gulls have the vote and do the gulls pay business rates? Because it would appear that the gulls are being treated better than the people of this area."
Previous Efforts and Future Plans
Inverness Business Improvement District (Bid) previously managed a programme involving egg and nest removal in the city centre to reduce the gull population.
However, the BID withdrew from the programme earlier this year due to funding shortages.
McPherson commended the work done by Inverness Bid and criticized the new plans as insufficient.
Council officials indicated that egg and nest removals remain a possibility under the current proposals but noted that gull behaviour has evolved over time, necessitating a revised approach.
Story by democracy journalist Olivia Andrews.
