 Seagulls can swoop on people when protecting their young |
People living near the coast are being urged to prepare now for the seagull nesting season. Every year there are reports in North Tyneside of seagulls making swooping attacks on people either in search of food or to protect their chicks.
The council is warning people not to feed gulls and to dispose of litter containing food carefully.
Chicks which have left the nest should be left alone as a parent is likely to be nearby.
'Distressing for public'
The major problem for the public is that since the 1940's gulls have increasingly used flat and apex roofs - often beside the chimney - for nesting instead of the traditional sea cliffs, islands and other inaccessible locations.
Councillor Dave McGarr, cabinet member for the environment, said: "It can be distressing for the public when the nesting seagulls do swoop at them for no apparent reason.
"However, hopefully by helping people to understand why this happens they can take some simple precautions."
It is illegal to do anything to cause suffering to gulls. Licences are given to only a few landowners or occupiers to kill certain pest species, or to disturb nests and eggs to preserve agriculture, public health or air safety.
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