Seagulls at Newcastle Central Station have ruffled a few feathers among motorists.
Two seagulls built a nest in a vacant bay in the station’s car park and are now hatching eggs. Railway staff found the nest and cordoned off the bay.
Says East Coast’s Newcastle station manager, Louise Rutherford, ‘We contacted the RSPCA for advice and they suggested we leave the nest undisturbed until the chicks hatch and are able to fly the nest. It’s against the law to touch or move the nest, so we’ve coned off the parking space and we’ll be keeping an eye on things to make sure they’re kept safe and sound.
‘We’re also asking drivers using the car park to take care around the birds as we’re told they can be quite aggressive in protecting their young.’ Happily Louise is allowing the gulls free parking. ‘We’ve already decided to waive the charge for the use of the parking space – they’d be up and away before we could give them a ticket!’
All birds, including gulls, crows, pigeons and doves, are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 during their nesting season. Under the Act, it is illegal to damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.
Has the world gone mad?A shovel and a bin at an early stage would have come in handy ,before eggs were laid! Seagulls can nest in other places!