Silver Gull Aerial Predation

["michael norris" <>]

Hi Jon

No - it's not good to see them catching live prey, especially at night.

German research has indicated, if not proved, that light pollution has 
serious effects on insect diversity and abundance. For instance, the "vacuum 
cleaner" impact sucks insects into the light and, for some species where one 
sex does not fly, this means the potential partners die in disproportionate 
numbers when they are killed by bats... and silver gulls....
And why are the gulls feeding on live prey? Because their vastly increased 
numbers, and now all-year round breeding, in urban areas as a result of 
trash means there are many more individuals short of day time food that need 
to hunt at night.
I guess we agree the trash is the issue to be tackled.  Ian Temby's work on 
silver gulls in Melbourne includes accounts of roof top nests surrounded by 
chicken bones.   And estimates the damage caused by their excretions etc in 
the millions.
Michael Norris