Gulls killing pigeons in cities

[~T~]

Is this getting more common or what? In the past few months I've seen it happen 3 times. The last time me and some mates were heading along to a gig about 7 oclock in town (Glasgow) and a lesser black back had a young pigeon on the roof awning of Superdrug with a small crowd gathered round below. The gull was ragdolling the pidgeon about and just as I got my phone out to film it a woman who was quite distressed at the happenings threw a muffin at them. The gull tried to take flight still holding it's prey and ended up dropping into the crowd (narrowly missing a guy who was filming it on his camcorder). A guy picked the pidgeon up and put it in a big planter amongst the flowers and it seemed to be ok (albeit a bit shaken). But the gull seemed noticibly annoyed and divebombed the guy several times while he went to the aid of the pigeon. It also seemed to spray him with droppings which I always thought was done only when defending chicks. Anyway it was a bit of excitement (especially since I was rather merry by that point).

Anyone else witness this kind of thing?

[leon_heller]

Something similar was mentioned a few months ago.

[Tringa]

I don't know if it is getting more common. The first one I saw was about a month ago at ground level close to Westminster Abbey. As it was about 6am there was no one else around.

I didn't intervene as it all part of normal behaviour. Must admit I did think about doing something but only from the point of view that the lesser black backed was in excellent condition and I thought it was likely to harm itself by eating something as mangy as the pigeon.

Dave

[wizzo]

Yes...quite common 'T'. Just nature doing it's thing! Wizzo

[RKB]

Gulls eat young (and old) birds, so it's pretty normal.