GeniB

Anyone know if there is the equivalent of the RSPOB here in Portugal.. ? Or any group I could ask about the removal of two pesky young seagulls that have decided to take possession of the empty house ..or rather roof and garden next door. I think they have nested and produced at least one chick. I also think the local magpies deposited one of those chicks on our patio staircase two days ago. ( dead) The seagulls have circled our house and next doors night and day ever since Screaming and crying .. Leaving their usual calling cards everywhere. and driving us mad They are the only two gulls in the area. We don't usually attract them on this coast ..and frankly don't want to in the future ..

Any suggestions gratefully received

Pulaski

Something like this? There are cheaper ones too, without rotating heads.

https://www.amazon.com/Gardeneer-Dalen-RHO4-Scarecrow-Rotating/dp/B0000AX52C/ref=sxin_3_ac_d_rm?hvadid=78271487889194&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=owl+scarecrow&pd_rd_i=B0000AX52C&pd_rd_r=a2a0d5a8-1dc2-4ec9-a39d-13a2f1a0e98c&pd_rd_w=gzE3Y&pd_rd_wg=AuyLE&pf_rd_p=91b604bb-c371-4573-970f-bed68a552852&pf_rd_r=03HVZSGQDJKN351HMJBG&qid=1560793260&s=gateway

Annetje

Gun ?

GeniB

OH had thought of that Annetje .. but then thought better of it. Who knows where a stray bullet might go
I thought of one of those enormous water pistols ,don't think that would really be a deterrent though..Just make me feel better
Its raining here this morning so they have been joined by a few mates that have come in off the ocean. Lets hope they join them when they go back

Annetje

I hope so for your sake

barlaventoexpert

Can't remember where you are but your first port of call should be your nearest Canil Municipal or GNR station.

They should have the contacts of any bird sanctuaries or provide some advice.

A few years back we rescued a couple of Meia Praia youngsters that got shot with airguns.

Took them to Lagos Canil Municipal and they called a sanctuary near Aljezur.

GeniB

Have discovered why they are so persistent today.. The dead baby bird wasn't the only one .. We can hear several baby birds cheeping on the other side of our neighbours wall. So it looks like we are stuck with this annoyance until they fledge. I hope the owner of the property isn't going to show any prospective buyers around any time soon. They will be in for quite a shock., never mind the dive bombing and mess.Hate to think what that patio looks like now.

Andy43

We have recently got an owl. About 25 euros from Inova. I've stuck a length of plastic waste pipe up his bum and slotted him into a downpipe on the roof terrace. He was ok about it after I explained he was plastic too, so it wouldn't hurt much. We have named him Ollivander. Not sure how effective he is yet, but he is supposed to scare the cr p out of other birds, which given your detailed description of the problem may or may not be useful.

Rosemary

Love your story.

Our police station building has been very popular for swallows building their nests so action was taken this year to deter them. Several plastic owls were fixed along the ledge where they normally nest but it has not worked at all, loads of swallows have still built their nests exactly where they always have done. I remember that in the UK we had a problem with a neighbours cat and we were informed that cats do not like snakes so a few plastic ones were placed in strategic places around the garden. Came home to find the cat asleep on top of one of them!!!

Rosemary

BillBullock

Little owls love to sit in our garden in the evening and early in the morning. They fly off when the blackbirds start their morning song, followed by the sparrows, the azure winged magpies, the collared doves, etc. A collared dove has nested twice this year in one of our palm trees. Such a pathetic excuse for a nest but the first 2 chicks hatched out and eventually flew the nest. Hopefully the next 2 will do the same. A neighbour's cat sleeps on our cushions right outside our bedroom most nights. We have a guard dog but he's useless!

BEVS

caretaker

Not sure about swallows, but to scare pigeons away the owls have to be moved every day. The city tried them on the facade of an old building downtown and I took a picture of a pigeon sitting on top of one of the owl decoys.

chislenko

Coast, seagulls, who'd have thought it?

GeniB

Thanks for all your suggestions and stories ( owl with a pipe up its bum) The babies have fledged now .. and seagulls have gone.It may surprise some to know that seagulls do not normally come inland to nest in built up areas. The UK has a massive problem with herring gulls because stupid people feed them, or just drop food everywhere they go in coastal resorts. These gulls are huge and will attack people .They are known as the rats of the skies ,bringing in diseases with them. So, although our gulls are small, they were rare visitors .Do not want to encourage them to stay and bring others with them. Don't know why our neighbours didn't nip it in the bud when they first began sitting on their water tank on their roof. They must have made tremendous racket.
All is quiet on the eastern front now

EMR

Gulls are a regular feature in UK inland cities.
They are not restricted to coastal areas.
Visit any landfill and you will see huge flocks waiting for the next load of rubbish to be tipped..
Gulls are protected so you cannot harm them in any way.
They are now part of our UK wildlife and environment.