New BTO report reveals are seagulls in sharp decline | Eastern Daily Press
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New BTO report reveals are seagulls in sharp decline
Environment
Brancaster
Cromer
Gorleston
Great Yarmouth
Heacham
Hemsby
Hunstanton
King's Lynn
Lowestoft
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Sea Palling
Sheringham
Wells-next-the-sea
By<br>Chris Bishop
Chief Reporter South & West
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Seagull numbers are in sharp decline, according to a new report (Image: Matthew Usher)<br>/>
A sign at Wells warns visitors not to feed the gulls (Image: Chris Bishop)><br>/>
Gulls follower a ploughing tractor in a familiar Norfolk scene (Image: Denise Bradley)<br>/>
Gulls fill the air over a landfill site near King's Lynn (Image: Matthew Usher)<br>/>
Gulls lined up along the quay in King's Lynn (Image: Matthew Usher)<br>/>
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You might not realise it when they're screaming overhead or trying to pinch your chips.
But new research suggests seagulls are in sharp decline because they're struggling to cope with modern life.
The Thetford-based British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), which carried out a nationwide survey of six species of gull over two successive winters says it revealed "a bleak picture" of falling numbers.
Gulls lined up along the quay in King's Lynn (Image: Matthew Usher)
Volunteers counted numbers of roosting Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls over 2023/24 and 2024/25.
Numbers of Black-headed gulls in the Wash fell from 17,830 to 2,050 over the two winters, while numbers on the Nene Washes in Cambridgeshire fell from 11,000 to 6,400.
The BTO, which has been carrying out gull counts since the 1950s, said the latest figures revealed "substantial population declines" for four of the five main wintering species, while the total number of gulls wintering in the UK has decreased from 3.9 million to just under 2.5 million over the last 20 years.
Gulls follower a ploughing tractor in a familiar Norfolk scene (Image: Denise Bradley)
It blames bird flu, changing farming practices, climate change, changes in waste management with less rubbish going to landfill and fisheries discards.
Emma Caulfield, BTO research ecologist who coordinated the survey, said, "These figures are pretty alarming, and suggest that these enigmatic gulls are having a tough time across the UK.
"Despite these smart and adaptable birds figuring out how to live alongside us, the ever-changing world appears to be moving too fast for them to keep up.
Gulls fill the air over a landfill site near King's Lynn (Image: Matthew Usher)
"By understanding the problems these familiar and widespread birds are facing, we can hope to reverse some of the negative trends and work to ensure that they remain a part of our cherished seaside environment."
Black-headed Gulls have declined by almost half in the last 20 years. The BTO blames the drop on the impact of bird flu on its breeding colonies in the summer of 2023.
The UK’s largest, the Great Black-backed Gull, saw a drop of up to 66pc wintering in the UK.
A sign at Wells warns visitors not to feed the gulls (Image: Chris Bishop)
Lesser Black-backed Gulls suffered a 47pc decline during the same period, while common Gull numbers fell by 26pc.
Common Gulls have decreased in England but remained stable in Scotland and Wales, while Great Black-backed Gulls showed significant declines in England and Scotland and significant increases in Northern Ireland.
Environment
Brancaster
Cromer
Gorleston
Great Yarmouth
Heacham
Hemsby
Hunstanton
King's Lynn
Lowestoft
Mundesley
Sea Palling
Sheringham
Wells-next-the-sea
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