Seagulls continue to be a nuisance to businesses in the Oamaru CBD.
However, the Department of Environmental Protection (Doc) says this is something for business owners to deal with.
As reported by Oamaru Mail in July, the number of red-billed gull nests found in the CBD during the 2023 breeding season was significantly higher than the previous year.
Seagulls are endemic and protected species.
Otago Coast operations manager Gabe Davis said a national survey between 2014 and 2016 found there were more than 27,000 red-billed gulls across the country.
“However, their numbers are declining at an alarming rate and they have been classified as nationally vulnerable.”
Their roof-nesting habit was something private operators had to deal with, he said.
John McKenzie, who owns three CBD buildings affected by seagulls, said it wasn't that simple.
The nets didn't work on pitched roofs because “the nets just sit on the roof, and the seagulls end up sitting on them.”
“We have considered all the recommendations, everything,” Mr McKenzie said.
He had installed bird spikes on his roof with “some success.”
“Thanks to this, the number of birds perched on buildings has decreased.
“It hasn’t stopped them.
“In some areas they actually nest on top of the bird’s ears, so it’s not very useful.”
Mr McKenzie said he had spent “between $8,000 and $9,000” trying to prevent seagulls from nesting.
But Waitaki District Council's 10 CBD buildings remain relatively gull-free.
Pigeon netting has been installed on the roof of the Forester Gallery and spikes have been installed at Oamaru Library.
Property manager Grant Rose said installing the screens cost the council more than $13,000 and maintenance staff spent many hours each week clearing gutters and bird droppings.
“During nesting season, they spend more time cleaning up nesting materials.
“Sometimes this is a daily thing.”
Mr Rose said there wasn't much the council could do about the seagulls.
But he praised building owners' efforts to keep seagulls away from the central business district.
nic.duff@oamarumail.co.nz
