TASPORTS is continuing its efforts to prevent port infrastructure from becoming a nesting area for seagulls.
The ports corporation encounters some unique challenges created by silver gulls, which position themselves near human activity, including around ports and visiting vessels.
The silver gull is the most common seagull in Australia, and the bird has coexisted with ports since the establishment of coastal settlement and maritime trade.
TasPorts’ regional operations manager Daniel Baker said port infrastructure and human activity provides breeding and feeding grounds for silver gulls, which is why the port authority focuses on preventative measures to manage population levels.
“We know seagull excrement can carry pathogens, such as salmonella, which can be a public health risk, as well as being highly acidic, which can cause infrastructure erosion and contaminate water, making it a biosecurity risk,” Mr Baker said.
“Population management is important and TasPorts’ mitigation strategy focuses on prevention and innovation to detract birds from nesting where possible.
“This includes spraying garlic, reflective lights, scare tactics, and more recently the use of random sprinkler sprays which are having a good level of success.”
Tasports say random sprinkler sprays are a humane way to create an unpredictable environment, making nesting and roosting less attractive, as well as acting as a physical barrier preventing the gulls from landing.
“Seagulls prefer stable, undisturbed areas and the random activation of sprinklers create an environment that is unpredictable and uncomfortable, helping to reduce the presence of gulls in targeted areas” Mr Baker said.
“Our main priority is prevention and adopting innovative approaches that balance the need for effective seagull management with environmental and wildlife conservation considerations.”
TasPorts’ Bird Management policy focuses on continuous improvement for the sustainable coexistence of their ports and silver gulls.
