New gull ranger appointed as Eyemouth seagull surveys get underway
Last updated 1st Jul 2026
The first of three seagull counts is set to get underway in Eyemouth, as a new gull ranger begins work in the town.
It comes amid ongoing calls for the bird's numbers to be controlled, following reports of attacks on children.
But Patrick Safford, who has joined Berwickshire Marine Reserve for the summer, revealed the main focus of his role will be public engagement.
He says urban gulls are a red-listed species whose numbers are declining rapidly, with human activity posing a greater threat to their future than the birds do to people.
"They can be defensive and swoop and steal food from us, so (it's about) spreading the message in how to minimise that conflict," Patrick explained.
"Part of (the role) is also research, so we're mapping out all the nests in Eyemouth, Coldingham and St Abbs; checking them every week, and coming up with data on the population here."
Mr Safford said the counts will also be open to the public, with the first meeting at The Hippodrome on Harbour Road at 10am on July 2nd.
"I also want to be a point of contact for people if they've got issues with gulls, and we can communicate and take the right action."
But he added: "I'm not like a patrolling warden or a firefighter, tackling conflict that way, it's much more of a public engagement and research (role), so we can more kind of make suggestions and work long-term to tackle the issue at its heart."
Last month, a new gull-proof bin was installed near the seating area opposite Giacopazzi's.
It's part of a trial aimed at reducing litter in the area, to discourage any birds loitering in the area.
The colourful receptacle uses solar power to compact waste - making it able to hold five times as much as a normal bin.
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A practice known as 'egg oiling', which stops eggs from hatching, and nest destruction were employed by Scottish Borders Council in part to control the gull population.
But this service was ended in 2019 when it became a paid-for service, and was deemed economically unviable.
Speaking in January, local councillor James Anderson - who called for it to be made illegal for people to feed the birds - said: "Significant problems do exist and we really need to give SBC officers the powers to address it.”
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