Birdwatch: herring gulls forced to move to urban jungle

Endangered species can provoke unfair hostility among city dwellers The herring gull's haunting cry reminds us of childhood seaside holidays by the beach, or the theme of the long-running BBC radio series Desert Island Discs.Yet today, you are more likely to hear that memorable sound in our city centres rather than by the sea. Herring gulls have moved into the urban jungle, nesting on the roofs of tall buildings, where they are safe from predators such as foxes, or their marine-dwelling cousin, the great black-backed gull. There is also more food available here than on the coast, where a decline in the fishing industry has made it harder for gulls. Continue reading...