Berwick Town Council proposes looking into the possibility of hiring a hawk to deter gulls from the town centre. The matter was discussed at Town Council on 5 August.
Herring Gulls in Berwick are a source of misery for many; mess and noise being the two main problems.
Residents at Easter Wynd in Berwick town centre are plagued by squawking, particularly of juvenile birds during the breeding months.
‘It’s just unbearable,’ one resident told The Bridge. ‘This is what we have to put up with all summer,’ as he pointed at a young gull following its parent through The Maltings car park, loudly squealing for food. ‘I don’t know why they don’t put roof spikes on all buildings because those really work.’
According to the RSPB website, as well as deterring gulls (the hawk doesn’t attack them, just makes them reconsider their location) : ‘Large hawks … will increase small songbird activity as Harris Hawks regularly flown … will lower the number of crows, magpies and gulls which prey on songbirds and their nests.
‘Large hawks are at the top of the food chain but do not prey on small birds. Cats pose the greatest risk to songbirds and small mammals.’
Another resident recalls that a hawk patrol has already been trialled in Berwick but ruled out due to cost. Another year eggs were removed from nests.
Further details on the hawk plan will emerge in due course.
What do you think? Is the hawk hire a good use of your Precept money?
Comments welcome below.
I fully support the use of a hawk in Berwick town centre. The buildings are a mess and it’s impossible to walk on the pavement without constantly sidestepping the mess. Not good for the residents as well as visitors.