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GreyShuck

What is happening to Wales' seagull numbers? (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 7 months ago by GreyShuck to c/nature

5 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Gulls might be seen as a nuisance by some, but experts warn their numbers are drastically declining in Wales.

However, changes to the fishing industry mean we could see a rise in the number of herring and lesser black-backed gulls, some of the most common forms of gulls.

Earlier this year, the first national survey of winter gulls in 20 years took place to find out more about how different species are faring amid growing pressures.

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[–] AngstyPony 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I've lived in this place on the South Wales coast, a little inland, for the past 20+ years. There's always been a large colony of the common type of gull living nearby. Someone maybe stopped feeding them recently (past 2 years) as they now perch on our house, and generally come a lot closer than they used to. There are many hundreds of them, which you can plainly see when they do their mass spiralling. I find their calls, especially when they're all at it at once, deeply affecting and lovely.

So something has changed, for sure, but I can't say what. The impression of there being more in my neck of the woods might be because colonies from elsewhere can't find food so have moved here 🤷‍♀️ .

Also, what was that in the video about sand-eels not being fished any more?

[–] GreyShuck 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Also, what was that in the video about sand-eels not being fished any more?

There's a ban on commercial fishing in English and Scottish waters from April 1st this year.

[–] AngstyPony 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Thanks for that link. A permanent ban, it says. Some part of this Government isn't so bad, then.

[–] GreyShuck 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

No, just occasionally they do do something positive. Back when Gove was environment minister we had a few good policy changes, I recall. More recently, Coffey was a mess though.

[–] AngstyPony 1 points 7 months ago

Oh yes.