Watch This Space

Will its nest survive?

This is a lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) nesting in a victorian chimney pot. Presumably, a jackdaw had already blocked it off, leaving a suitable nesting platform.

Larus fuscus is anber-listed as endangered and can only be controlled after the issue of a DEFRA Licence. I am concerned that this bird is at risk.

The nest is on the roof a house opposite mine. This afternoon, roofers appeared and fitted spiked caps to the four pots at the opposite end of the roof. Fair enough - a deterrent is allowed. However, when the roofers finished for the day, they moved their hooked roof ladder to the stack where the gull is nesting and have left it in place overnight - obviously intending to come back tomorrow or worse still - after dark!

I have spoken with the house-owner and informed him of the bird's status. He claims no knowledge of what is going on on his own roof and so I await his wife's return from work later tonight.

As they say . . . Watch This Space.

I now understand that the gull will be ousted from its nest early tomorrow morning and return will be barred. :-((