The Ward Forum Meeting will be held in the Courthouse tomorrow evening. In anticipation of this I have emailed a letter last sunday to Louise Clark, and Provost Liz Mac donald, and Cllr, Graham Marsden. The letter contains my views on the Seagull problem as I see it. Coincidentally todays Nairnshire contains a letter which reflects much of what I feel myself regarding the Seagulls subject !
I dont know if my letter will be taken into account during the forum, so I will publish it here:
Submission To The Ward Forum Regarding Seagulls.
23/8/09.
Recognition that Nairn is a coastal Town and Seagulls as an integral and natural part of the Town should first be acknowledged by all.
The problem lies in management of our own habits rather than trying to manage the Seagulls habits. Having observed Seagulls and their habits quite closely for the last 6 years many things have become very obvious to me. First of all that the they are intelligent and make use of our habits, they make use of our provision of Flat roofed areas, and our convenience fast foods, and our habit of dropping tasty morsels. Then of course they take advantage of our inability to clear up our litter containing so many tasty morsels!
The time of year most problems arise is when they are feeding young chicks about 3 months from June to August. If left to their own natural state they would frequent the shoreline and river and return with crabs, eels and other sea foods.
To mitigate the effects that gulls have on our lives we can do the following:
The Council must lead by example and ensure that enough birdproof litter bins are located throughout the Town, these should be of sufficient capacity to handle a weeks litter easily, otherwise they will have to be emptied more often.
I notice that June to August is coincidentally the very time every year when the bins are overflowing, ideally suited to the rearing of seagull chicks!
Ensure that sufficient Council cleaning staff are employed to do the job of keeping the Town clean.
Educate the public not to openly feed gulls by way of appropriate large sized signs in key locations throughout the town.
All Council properties should be kept free of seagull nests, or otherwise the eggs treated.
I notice that June to August is coincidentally the very time every year when the bins are overflowing, ideally suited to the rearing of seagull chicks!
Ensure that sufficient Council cleaning staff are employed to do the job of keeping the Town clean.
Educate the public not to openly feed gulls by way of appropriate large sized signs in key locations throughout the town.
All Council properties should be kept free of seagull nests, or otherwise the eggs treated.
In conclusion, Short of a mass extermination program we must accept the natural existence of gulls in the Town but do our utmost to change our own poor management and habits. If left in peace and un-fed we can happily co-exist with our feathered friends.
Yours, Joe Telfer
Yours, Joe Telfer
The following photo's should prove my point about the overflowing bins.
These were taken on sunday the 23rd august, three days before the bins were due to be emptied.
These were taken on sunday the 23rd august, three days before the bins were due to be emptied.
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