Brambles Wildlife Rescue's Advice  Page - Help For Gulls

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Nestling and Chicks Fallen From Roofs                                                                                         

As soon as baby gulls appear on roofs we start getting messages that babies have fallen off the roof. These should be replaced using the directions set out below. Very small chicks up to 3 days old do need the warmth of their parents at night and will need access to the nest so please use ladders or find a roofer to help you pop them back up on the roof. Care needs to be taken not to place them on the wrong roof or close to neighbouring nesting gulls. Placing chicks older than 3 days on top of a garage, shed, extension or even back on to the main house roof is the best thing to do. The parent will continue to look after them and feed them. Ensuring fresh water is available to drink is very beneficial for them in these situations and you can feed wet dog or cat food too. It is common for gulls to be calling to their parents, whining and whimpering, this is normal and not a sign of distress. All young gulls do this even up on top of the roofs, this is them just asking for attention and food. It is nothing to worry about. Parents feed baby gulls around 4 times a day so will not be with them constantly. 

Fledglings

                                                    

Fledglings can be identified as those whose wing tips overlap just above the base of the tail. Ideally there should be at least a 1cm overlap. As with all fledgling birds they are unsuccessful when they take their first flight and land in gardens. They need to spend time building up the muscle strength in their wings before they can fly. Fledglings should be left alone even if on the ground unless injured, in a dangerous location like a busy road or in a confined space (6ft x 6ft or very high walls i.e. more than 12ft high but depends on size of the confined space). Where fledgling gulls have jumped off a roof and into a road please move them into the garden of the house where they came from to keep them safe (ideally a back garden may be safer than a front garden near a road). You can try to get them off the ground again onto a shed or garage, but they may well jump straight off again. During this time the parents often withhold food in an attempt to encourage the gulls to fly up to them, this is normal. Providing fresh water is useful. Fledglings of all species are at risk of being taken by predators, this is natural and so rescue centres don't normally take in fledglings just because there are predators around.  Facilities sadly do not exist to take in the millions of fledglings which would need taking into care if they were to do this. Predators cannot be expected to be vegetarian.  In the same way gulls should not be stopped from catching fish or Tawny Owls from taking mice. 

 

Rescue Centres for Injured Gulls or Those in Immediate Danger 

Unfortunately Brambles Wildlife Rescue does not have outdoor space to rear baby gulls as they need outdoor space to practice flying. One other rescue locally are taking baby gulls that are injured or in immediate danger without their parents. You may choose to contact them if you can travel them to them, and if you cannot move the gull to safety described in box 1 and 2.

 

Wolfwood Wildlife Rescue - www.wolfwood.co.uk; 07931 220094; Based near Galgate, nr. Lancaster.

 

If you don't drive, please consider arranging a lift there. Failing that, please contact the RSPCA 0300 1234 999 - please note they will not attend if the bird is unsecured so secure it in a box and feed wet dog or cat food in the interim. Please offer a bowl of water and never syringe or put water into a bird's beak directly.

 

 

Dive Bombing,  Dog Owners  & Gulls on roofs.         

If you have dogs that usually use your garden, we would advise you to take it for a walk instead.  This is a temporary measure until the birds can fly, please be patient and kind.

 

Rescues cannot take babies away from their parents just because they are an inconvenience, it is cruel and there simply isn't the space for all the baby gulls in Blackpool that have fallen from roofs.

 

Nests cannot be disturbed unless using a general licence from Natural England. Dive Bombing and noisy gulls are NOT a suitable reason for using a general licence or to disturb them. They will move on as soon as the babies can fly - please be patient.