seagulls

Eastbourne College Head Groundsman, Richard Maryan, was horrified when the pitches he has spent months painstakingly preparing for the Springboks to use in their World Cup preparation, were invaded by seagulls.

As Spring approaches, facilities and property managers are being urged to make sure bird control methods are in place before pest birds settle in for the peak nesting periods of Spring and Summer.

In April and May, pigeons and gulls will start taking advantage of the warmer weather to sit on outside ledges and pipe work. Their droppings then fall to the floor below, creating a dangerously slippery surface. There are many techniques available including installing nets, sprung wire systems and bird spike repellents.

Seagulls have got their revenge on a Sussex pest controller by causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage to his new car. Jon Whitehead, who lives in Seaford, East Sussex, and is a director at Cleankill Pest Control, returned from holiday to find seagulls had used his estate car for target practise.