This title will annoy some readers since, strictly speaking, there is no such thing as a seagull – there are herring gulls and black-headed gulls and common gulls and a whole host of other species of gull but no such thing as a seagull (what would Jonathan Livingston say?) Nonetheless, it felt right to group these different species together and not just because grouping them together is something we humans so often do; but rather because when looking at the topic of rewilding in relation to UK bird species, these different varieties of gull have something in common: they are all facing a threat that humans need to be addressing.

Folklore holds that it is bad luck to harm a seagull and yet, given the current state of our seas, it seems that some folk didn’t get the memo. Our ocean ecosystems have been badly affected by human activity. There has been disruption due to bottom trawling, climate change and an increase in pollutants. Seagull population and activities can be viewed as a barometer of what is going on for our wildlife out at sea and it doesn’t look pretty. Even the common gull is not so common any more, making its way onto the list of UK red list species in 2024. Also hitting the red list is the herring gull whose population has dropped by 72% since 1969. The herring gull’s iconic call is so synonymous with the sea that it features in the desert island discs signature tune. In fact, when, in 1964, the BBC trifled with removing the gull sound there was a backlash and it was soon restored. Perhaps we need more of a backlash now to ensure that UK seaside towns do not lose the melody of the herring gull forever.

But those pesky chip nabbers are everywhere!

Some find it hard to believe that our seagulls are under threat of extinction. Villainised on social media, there’s a common feeling that seagulls are lurking around every corner, waiting to thieve your seaside chip shop treat. To gain a bit more perspective, it can help to see things from the gull’s point of view (though only in a figurative way – we don’t have the photoreceptor cells to even begin to match their visual prowess).

Seagulls vastly prefer fresh fish to salt and vinegar doused fried potatoes but with overfishing, ocean acidification and pollution, it’s no longer the case that there are plenty more fish in the sea. Polling shows that most Europeans have no idea about our impact in the ocean, but our sea birds are feeling the strain. Unlike many red-list species, however, seagulls are incredibly resourceful: if they can’t find the food they need out on the high seas, they’ll search out solutions elsewhere – be that an overfilled bin on a Pembrokeshire promenade, a rubbish tip on the outskirts of London, or a discarded packed lunch on a West Yorkshire playing field. Their adaptability is enabling them to hang on, at least for the moment.

The loss of rural nesting sites has also had an impact and is one of the primary reasons for the decline in gull populations. Coastal development has forced these adaptable birds to relocate to our roofs instead. Natural England has even concluded that there are now more breeding herring gulls and lesser black backed gulls supported in urban environments than in their natural nesting habitats.

We need to admit that the conflict between human and seagull is really one that we have brought upon ourselves. It could be said that it’s our responsibility to make amends as these birds try desperately to survive in an inhospitable world. Rather than ranting on Reddit about the evil seagulls, we need to learn to coexist with nature. (And if you are really bothered about seagulls stealing your chips, just eat them in front of a wall to prevent a fly by crime scene).

All gulls great and beautiful…

Perhaps it’s time to look again at seagulls and learn to love the larinae.  Like all species, they have a role to play in our ecosystems and, in a nature crisis, it is imperative that we aim to restore balance rather than perpetuate problems. 

One of the key benefits of gulls is that they are willing to eat just about anything – this means that they act as nature’s clean up team, consuming carrion and waste that might otherwise spread disease as well as cycling nutrients between habitats. They also help to keep other species populations in check, from rats to insects. Across the Atlantic in Utah, seagulls even gained honour for such a service, being recognised as Utah’s state bird for saving pioneer crops from a cricket infestation back in 1848.

Seagulls can also help to combat loneliness. Before the days of radio, sailors out at sea would feel comforted by the sound of gulls and the knowledge that they were not alone. Some even came to believe that the seagulls embodied the souls of people that they had lost, hence the aforementioned tradition that it is bad luck to harm a seagull.

Looking at gulls in a different way could even have a theological impact. Evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould once quipped that a seagull’s wing was so near to perfection that it could be used as an argument for intelligent design (although ultimately, the stubbiness of a panda’s thumb convinced him to remain an atheist). Even so, to be by the sea and watch seagulls skilfully ride the thermals can certainly touch the soul. For a closer look, you may want to check out one of the coastal RSPB sites where you stand a good chance of accessing a pair of binoculars and an enthusiastic member of the RSPB team who can tell you more about them. (Editor’s note: I particularly recommend South Stack in North Wales where I stood and contemplated this blog and Gould’s commentary on perfection).

Seawild for the seagulls

The UK is ‘internationally important’ for seabird populations and with so many of our seabirds, becoming endangered, the RSPB has argued for urgent government action to tackle the drivers of population decline. But it is not enough to stop bottom trawling, coastal development, plastic pollution, and bird bycatch. After all the trouble that we have caused our gulls, it’s time to put things right. Whilst the damage done on land is often more visible to us, as an indicator species, every seagull diving for your chips should be a reminder of the damage that we have caused out at sea. 
 
Wild Card has campaigned for rewilding in our fields, woodlands, rivers and moors. We also believe that our seas need some restorative care too. We need to seawild. Whether it’s replanting the seagrass meadows we have lost, restoring the oyster beds or increasing the size of marine protected areas where nature can do its thing, there is much work to be done to bring back the fish populations of the past and to save our seabirds. Ultimately, restoring marine ecosystems will do more than just help our seagulls. As David Attenborough once said, “if we save the sea, we save our world.”