Herring gulls have increasingly colonised urban rooftops for nesting. Their welfare and the conflicts they cause require evidence-based management that respects their protected status.
Urban herring gull welfare involves both the welfare of birds that have successfully adapted to urban environments and the management of the conflicts their presence creates. Gulls that establish rooftop colonies are doing what their species is programmed to do - finding safe, food-rich breeding habitat. The diving behaviour that frightens people protects real eggs and chicks underneath. Removing nests or eggs without licence causes illegal harm to a protected, declining species. Evidence-based management - preventing nest establishment through proofing before the breeding season, licensed egg replacement where legal - reduces conflict without compromising welfare.