Herring gull protection

​Why they are protected

Herring gulls are seen almost every day in Jersey. However, populations in the UK have decreased by 50% in the last few decades. They're on the Red List of UK Birds of Conservation Concern​.

Colonies used to be found on our coastal slopes but many gulls now nest in urban areas where food is easy to find in domestic waste. This brings them int​o direct conflict with people who sometimes consider them a nuisance .

The law protects young and adult gulls, their nests and eggs.

If gulls nesting on your rooftops causes a problem, contact a licenced pest controller. Find more information on nuisance seagulls.

Herring gull on RSPB

Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2021 guidance​

Habitat

Breeding pairs court in March and start building their nest from early April onwards.

Gulls lay their eggs from April to May onwards. They usually have 2 to 3 eggs. You can start to see the first chicks in early June.

Chicks tend to leave their nest in August. They take 3 or 4 years to reach maturity and breed. Parent birds protect fallen chicks by diving and swooping on people and animals.

Gulls tend to return to the same nesting site. Unless you take action to stop them from coming back, problems associated with these birds can happen every year.

They are opportunistic and have a very varied diet, including:

• fish
• crustaceans
• some plants

Gulls are also scavengers and can eat food left by or stolen from humans.

Threats and decline

Our herring gull populations have experienced declines in recent years.

This is mainly due to with degradation or loss of:

• nesting habitat
• predation
• food availability for coastal nesting birds
• future outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu)
  

Conservation efforts

Our conservation efforts are mainly through the Wildlife Law which protects the gulls at all stages of their lives. The removal of herring gull eggs or nests can only be done by those licensed to do so.

We also run campaigns to highlight our gulls’ place in nature and what people can do to avoid any conflict with them.

How you can help

Reporting your wildlife sightings helps us understand our species, supports our research and informs decision-making.

Report your wildlife sightings​