Their chips are down: New Zealand seagulls under threat after 'unbelievable declines'

[Judi Lynn]

Three species of seagulls are severely at risk, but there is little public awareness or sympathy for their plight

Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin
@EleanorAingeRoy
Tue 12 Feb 2019 20.12 EST

Squawking, chip-stealing seagulls are under threat in New Zealand, with some colonies experiencing “unbelievable declines”, and others disappearing altogether over the past few decades.

New Zealand is home to three species of seagull but the native red-billed seagull – the beady-eyed interloper who makes an appearance at every beach picnic up and down the country – is the most common.

Despite seeming to be in abundance because of their noisy antics and attraction to urban and inhabited environments, experts say the birds are severely at risk, with just 27,800 breeding pairs left nationwide, and the main offshore breeding colonies suffering population plummets of 80% to 100% since the mid-1960s.

By comparison the kiwi – which has millions of dollars of conservation funding directed towards its survival – is much healthier, with 68,000 animals left. But in the conservation world, cuteness counts.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/13/new-zealand-seagulls-under-threat-after-90-decline

[IGoToDU]

1. Very sad!

...the damage we humans do to our irreplaceable Mother. Seagulls can be pesky but can one imagine any beach experience without hearing their cries and seeing them fly? I’ve been to NZ and it is truly one of the best places on earth. To only have been born there...sigh. I’ve been thinking for quite some time now that NZ (in particular!) is preferable to here. That’s sad too. Thank you dear Judi Lynn for sharing this. I’m off to read the entire article.