Nature and wildlife, Seagulls | The municipality recommends measures to prevent seagulls nesting on roofs in Sarpsborg

Seagulls are a sure sign of spring, and soon they will be ready to build nests and lay eggs. In Sarpsborg, many residents have been bothered by seagulls, and on its website, Sarpsborg municipality is now recommending that house owners in Sarpsborg take measures to prevent nesting on the roof.

– Will protect the children against other enemies

Because when the seagulls build nests, they like to do so on flat roofs that are inaccessible to wild enemies.

– From previous years, we know that when the eggs hatch and the young seagulls leave the nest, there will be noise. The seagull parents want to protect the young against other enemies, which include us humans, says Liv-Torill Osland Lunde, who is an adviser on environmental health care in Sarpsborg municipality.

Sarpsborg municipality states that the herring gull is the most common seagull species in Sarpsborg, and it is mostly herring gulls that you can see in the city in the summer.

– They nest scattered and in colonies, and on larger buildings with flat roofs colonies of herring gulls can nest. Smaller colonies can nest on residential roofs, writes Sarpsborg municipality, which otherwise writes that it is possible for homeowners in Sarpsborg to prevent nesting on roofs.

– It is forbidden to remove nests

Here are the recommendations from Sarpsborg municipality about what you can do in terms of preventive measures:

• String up wires on typical seating areas, on cornices and eaves where the birds often sit to observe and follow along.
• Fasten wires up on the roof at 30 centimeter intervals and 30 centimeters up from the ceiling before nesting, but do not use netting in which the birds can get stuck.
• Vary with different types of scarecrows before nesting.

– But remember that once the seagulls have started building nests, you must leave them alone. It is forbidden to remove the nests or disturb the seagulls in other ways. Removing started nests or eggs requires permission from the Norwegian Environment Agency, advises Stine Marie Engmark Espe in the environment and agriculture team on Sarpsborg municipality’s website.