Gull crackdown in Elgin to continue following sonar success

Sonar devices used to try and curb Elgin’s urban gull problems have proved successful.

Machines were placed on buildings around the town for a 12-week period over the spring and early summer to try and stop the birds breeding.

Some properties saw a drop between 80 and 90% in the number of nests and on a few of the buildings the devices were on there were no nests at all.

However in some areas including Ashgrove and Muirfield Road the measures failed to make an impact.

Elgin Common Good spend £15,000 hiring and maintaining eight machines, with plans now for an additional two extra devices to continue the deterrent into next year.

Discussions will also be held with Community Planning Partners to find the best locations for some of the machines, while talks are to take place with fast food outlets to encourage gull proof bins on premises.

"Some members of the public...think we can just go in and get them..." John Divers

Labour councillor for Elgin South John Divers said: “It’s been quite a success. It’s not 100% but nothing is.

“There have been pockets where gulls continue to be a problem. But it is very positive.

“The number of complaints I’ve received has come down. I’ve only had two this year.

“In previous years I was getting two or three complaints a day.

"The problem we have is that we have to work within the guidelines that NatureScot are setting

"Some members of the public can't accept that and they think we can just go in and get them, but we have to work within the legislation

"I do know the problem it can be and it'll take a number of years for it to reduce year-upon-year"

As well as installing the sonar devices, vermin control experts removed 50 nests and around 80 eggs from properties in Elgin and they found many eggs taken were not fertilised.

Flying hawks and lasers were also used to try and prevent the birds from nesting.

SNP councillor for Elgin South Graham Leadbitter called for everyone in the town to do their best to address the urban gull problem.

He said: “In excess of £100,000 is spent between the council’s housing and estates budget, Elgin Common Good and Elgin BID on seagull deterrents.

“But it is also vital that private owners – both households and businesses – also consider what work they can do on their own properties as it has to be a collective effort to tackle this issue.”

Elgin Bid installed two devices in the town centre this year. That followed a successful trial at the Giles Centre that saw the number of nests drop from over 100 to six.

Information from using the sonar devices will go towards developing a gull management plan.

The document is expected to make it easier for the local authority to apply for area wide licences to remove nests and eggs.

It comes after stricter conditions for dealing with gulls were brought in by NatureScot.

It is illegal to kill the birds or disturb their nests without an appropriate licence.