I am sure it was not intended to, but Poundland in Aberystwyth had netting on their roof which can catch and kill seagulls. I wrote to them (last act as a Town Councillor for the area), and others have been campaigning on the matter. The (now dead) birds have been removed, and Poundland have removed the netting. Well done Poundland.
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| photo ©keith morris 2012 keith@artx.co.uk 07710 285968 01970 611106 www.artswebwales.com |
Update: SAVERS and CARD FACTORY have finally removed their netting, complete with dead seagulls hanging in it. It is presumably intended to prevent them nesting there.I really like the seagulls. This is a seaside town after all.
OK, if they scatter the contents of rubbish bags over the street then they are a nuisance. The new food recycling service seems to have drastically reduced that problem.
Even if you do not like them, a prolonged and agonising death (sometimes eaten alive by magots), is not something they deserve. Having netting which is likely to have this effect may be an offence under the Animal Welfare Act (2006).
Some Herring Gull facts:
- They mate for life. (So the one on the right in the photo above is watching the death of its mate.)
- They can live for over 40 years.
- A pair uses the same nesting site year after year.
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| These two have been on my roof each year for the last three years. Photo: Anita Hummel. |
