Raptors enrolled to keep an eagle eye on estate seagulls (courtesy of Edinburgh Evening News)

Falconry response

IT'S a drastic solution for an age-old problem.
The Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) has employed a falconry firm to keep troublesome seagulls away from its new housing development in Goosander Place which was officially opened this week in the Western Harbour,

NBC Bird & Pest Solutions will send out hawks and falcons to keep gulls away during the nesting season, and deter them from squatting in the building over the summer.

Scottish area manager Ian Cain said: "Gulls are very aggressive at this time of year so PoLHA has brought us in because they don't want them anywhere near their new development.

"As well as being so aggressive they also do a lot of fouling, which can cause blockages in the drains and gutters.

"Ultimately, it's a long-term investment because the gulls will be looking for a place to nest right now, and they will see this building as somewhere they've never visited before and potentially a very comfortable place to nest.

"They fly to Portugal for the winter but from about April they start coming back to Britain to lay their eggs, stay for the summer and then fly back to Portugal again in the autumn.

"However, if we send the falcons out four days a week this is enough to deter them from coming back."

NBC has also provided falconry services for the Scottish Parliament, the National Galleries of Scotland, Fettes Village and Big Yellow Storage, as well as Hampden Park.

For the full story visit Edinbugh Evening News

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