* Scotland's nature agency sanctioned the destruction of 224,750 gulls nests during 2022
* All species affected were either red listed or amber listed, of conservation concern NatureScot, the Scottish government's nature agency, last year permitted the removal or destruction of more than 200,000 gulls nests, nearly half of them belonging to red-listed Herring gulls, a species that is among the most threatened in the UK, and of the highest conservation concern. I've obtained data that reveals NatureScot issued 1,953 gull licences in 2022 and approved the removal of 224,750 nests of five different species of gull. According to the agency, the nests that could be destroyed under these licences "may or may not contain eggs". The total number of nests licensed to be removed in a single year were:- 103,020 nests of Herring gulls 45,990 nests of Lesser Black-backed gulls 39,570 nests of Common gulls 22,660 nests of Great Black-backed gulls 13,510 nests of Black-headed gulls The huge scale of nest destruction allowed under Scotland's licences beggars belief, especially given the fragile conservation status of many of the species affected. In 2020, three species of gull were removed from the relevant 'general licence' in Scotland due to conservation concerns, and since then a specific licence must be obtained in order to lethally control gulls; permitted actions include removal of nests and eggs, or in some cases killing pre-fledged chicks or adult birds. NatureScot noted that "if eggs are removed then the number of eggs taken must be recorded in the returns form. Some of these eggs may have been passed onto wildlife sanctuaries." (they did not provide further information on how many eggs 'may have been passed on' to wildlife sanctuaries). The licences were approved for the purpose of "preserving public health and public safety", and NatureScot appears to have sanctioned considerably more nest destruction than equivalent bodies in other parts of the UK - Natural England, NRW (Wales) and Daera (Nothern Ireland). The enormous number of gulls affected by the Scottish licences is extremely worrying. NatureScot proudly proclaim "We are Scotland’s nature agency. We work to improve our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it." Maybe they should take another look at their internal policies - before trying to 'inspire' others to care about nature.
42 Comments
Tim Holter
2/3/2023 07:33:58 pm
Astounding. They obviously have no care or conscience for nature contrary to what we may have foolishly believed was their purpose and all those figures on top of avian flu impacts!!!!!
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N summers
2/3/2023 07:38:15 pm
What on earth are we doing to other species on this planet and killing everything
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robert harrison
3/3/2023 09:26:04 pm
100% factually correct
Shabbaz Taher
2/3/2023 10:40:22 pm
Scotland is a perfect example of totalitarian medical tyranny. Now tons of Scots are dying because of the poisoned pseudo vaccines. She is gone but something worse will be replacing her. I am convinced of that. Scotland is totally LBGTQ woke Drag Queen trans humanist dictatorship and that is in all political parties.
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Jane Lamey
2/3/2023 11:23:13 pm
I totally agree with your comments. 3/3/2023 08:42:36 am
Get a grip Shabbaz we are talking about the killing of gulls here not some crazy ideas about fake vaccines.
Emma
3/3/2023 09:50:46 am
I share your sentiments. We ( including the natural world) appear to be under seige.
katrina robinson
4/3/2023 05:27:00 pm
What utter drivel! Apart from the conspiracy-theory inspired vaccine crap (evidence and data needed please to back up claims) there is no internal logic to the thoughts or sentences: synapses firing randomly in all directions at once, with the gulls issue tacked on as an afterthought.
Christine Wardlow-Kaye
12/3/2023 08:19:28 am
The killing of these birds is like a double whammy because the lives of all wild lare threatened in any case by Avian Bird flu. Very disappointing!
Jonathan Rupert King
2/3/2023 11:19:18 pm
If NatureScot are sanctioning industrial scale destruction of red/orange listed gulls' nests & eggs what possible hope is there for the future of these species? What "public health and public safety threats" do these birds pose!? Do NatureScot exist in an alternative universe where caring for nature actually means killing nature? Its incomprehensible double speak!! Truly shocking.
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7/3/2023 07:15:28 pm
this should be reversed and see how many human species can be removed the whole planet would be a better enviroment
Lyn Davies
3/3/2023 12:37:13 am
What are these people stupid or just plain idiots.The uk is the most wildlife depleted place in the world.It’s pathetic.Killing song birds etc and now our sea birds.Bloody mad.
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Rose Herrmann
3/3/2023 12:44:02 am
That is just horrible sadistic news and the Scottish government isn’t protecting the Scottish wildcats like they should. We used to visit Scotland and the Uk to see your birds and wildlife. In the US we have a vicious so called wildlife service and they kill hundreds of thousands of innocent birds and animals every year. It is just heartbreaking and now we have vicious sadistic monsters killing wolves and bears by every horrific means available and also vicious sadistic trophy hunters going all over the world murdering rare animals. Please help stop the imports of elephant and other animals in the UK
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David Alan Waterston
3/3/2023 11:03:09 am
So very true and the point you make about our lovely Wild Cats...I say Cats as it has been proven that these wonderful Beasties are living in more Wild woodland than the Scottish Government seemingly want us mere mortals to know....Sad how We as Human beings (well some of them anyways) feel that our national treasure are an acceptable forfit for mans never ending GREED.
Faith Davies
3/3/2023 01:00:43 am
I can't believe that the most endangered Herring gull was the one most persecuted & destroyed. There must be a way to stop this happening again &, hopefully, even prosecuting ScotNature for destroying red listed eggs & chicks.
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kip pickard
3/3/2023 08:24:14 am
Words fail me!!!!!
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Stephen Pirie
2/3/2023 07:39:39 pm
Disgusted by these figures shocking that conservancy groups are not at all caring about conservation. Disgusted at Scotland and I am a Scot . The people in control need to be controlled !
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Elaine Baker
3/3/2023 10:12:37 am
Totally in agreement with Stephen, especially his last comment, which should apply to all regions. Other comments, left by other contributors also relevant.
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Paul Moger
2/3/2023 07:41:42 pm
People doing things that they don't understand the effects they don't care about conservation You've got more birds dying From avian flu and we're Dispatching birds shocking
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2/3/2023 07:45:14 pm
It really does take your breath away. Who are these people that make such glib decisions over the bird population and what professional qualifications do they have? Nature is fighting for survival facing climate change never mind such misguided human intervention. It beggars belief.
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Christina
2/3/2023 07:46:14 pm
Just heartbreaking. Killing is NEVER the answer.
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2/3/2023 07:53:39 pm
It Appears Jason has Unearthed Again What these Nature ? Throughout the UK Are doing . Why Are These Allowed To Do this ? these Government Agencies are TOO BIG ! They Do not Do what they Should Be doing to Protect Us and Carry Out KILLING which We Do not Agree Too . I Ask as I Always Do ,WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE A BULLFINCH ? They are On The Lists if NATURAL ENGLAND ! Vile Is It Not ?
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Mark
2/3/2023 07:55:20 pm
If these figures are correct then I am appalled. Why are so many being culled when the numbers are worryingly declining? And how can a group like NatureScot condone it. It’s mass murder!
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Pete
2/3/2023 08:01:44 pm
The determination to destroy under the proclamation of enhancement and care is shameful. What use a successful economy in an environment broken for all .
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Joanie Jo
2/3/2023 08:02:34 pm
Hi Jason , great petition! I signed. However this site hasn't got a padlock.... Please rectify because your site is very informative & interesting. 😊
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Simon George Spratt
2/3/2023 08:09:46 pm
Good evening Jason!!
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Milja Spruit
2/3/2023 08:21:22 pm
Thank you so much, Jason, for all the work you do! I wish I had your energy. But I do support your petitions and I do admire you!
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Alan Bayes
2/3/2023 08:54:01 pm
It's way past time that bodies that claim to be supporting nature are made to live up to their names or are disbanded and organisations that actually do work on behalf of the natural world are given the job,
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Alan Vallis
2/3/2023 09:03:12 pm
As if avian flue wasn't enough of a problem for wild birds, idiots licensing the destruction of their nesting sites is beyond belief.
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David Turner
2/3/2023 09:19:52 pm
So the reason for this mass murder sanctioned by Nature Scot is because a few gulls have nicked your fish n chips, the odd one has shit on you or they are roosting on your chimney
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Tony Paterson
2/3/2023 10:14:52 pm
It certainly does seem that way David.
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Stephen Russell
2/3/2023 10:05:58 pm
I can’t understand why someone can be allowed to do this especially when the Birds are on the Red list.
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Tim Burke
3/3/2023 11:59:48 am
These numbers are for destruction of nests. I suspect that they exceed the total number of nests for some of these species. I would be interested to see the justification, although I suspect they have just rubber stamped everything.
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Kathy Danby
3/3/2023 05:27:15 am
My favourite bird is the gannet. These wonderful birds dive into the sea from high in the air, and are a delight to watch. During the months April to September, I travel from mainland Orkney to Hoy, at least once a week, and don't count my visit complete without sighting at least one gannet. Avian flu has hit the gannet particularly hard - and even our lovable rogues the bonxies (great skuas) have been reduced in numbers by avian flu. I have spoken to holidaymakers on the Hoy ferry, and many of them have spoken of seeing gannets dead on the beach, during their holiday travels.
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Sandi Short
3/3/2023 08:57:10 am
I think we should be looking at birth control....of the human race.
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Sharon Smithen
3/3/2023 09:38:08 am
This is appalling. My question is WHY? What do they think they are doing. Will they not be satisfied until all these birds are becoming extinct. I've noticed less and less gulls at seaside resorts and more coming inland to find food. They have a tough time anyway so why would they destroy there nests to make life more difficult for them....are they in the way of our selfish lives?
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Jean Patmore
3/3/2023 10:07:18 am
You couldn't make it up - if bird flu doesn't get them, NatureScot will!
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Colin Kirtland
3/3/2023 11:44:19 am
I wonder how many applications for destruction are received and how many are rejected? None of them?
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Mary Rafferty
3/3/2023 12:43:38 pm
I can't say this surprises me as the Scottish Government is hell bent on destroying every piece of our beautiful environment by allowing the building of wind turbines all over our landscape. A trip down the M74 reveals multiple hilltops covered in wind turbines most of which are not turning as they are producing too much energy for the national grid to cope with. The nests they have destroyed are probably in the way of yet more landscape desecration. I hope people bear their wilful destruction of endangered species nests next time they vote.
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Keith Foster
3/3/2023 02:40:35 pm
I am astounded that we are killing wildlife and for fatuous reasons without clear science involvement and the ability to know and debate the obscene tick box management of life of any ilk. Why do we not have an accounting responsible reasoning shared to understand the “problem wildlife causes.
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Christine Burden
3/3/2023 02:47:31 pm
Only 13000 black headed gulls. What are they thinking of? This species may survive when they have wiped out all the others. No chip will be safe until they are all disposed of.
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Irene Leggett
7/3/2023 09:36:43 pm
I'm beginning to wonder if its those 'in charge' that ought to be 'culled' instead of ANY birds.....its time to protect and save all our wildlife before its too late and there's nothing left except blood-thirsty, brain-dead, heartless, gutless animal killers.
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