Wildlife Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (653)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

653. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service have been in communication in recent years with any local authorities, for example Dublin City Council, other State organisations, for example the Office of Public Works, other non-State organisations, or individual citizens with regard to gull colonies committing persistent predatory acts on other wild bird species for example in St. Stephen’s Green and in the Phoenix Park given that serious harm is being caused to other species in lakes and ponds in Dublin city and several parklands; if will he provide copies of relevant correspondence; if he or his Department have been in communication with organisations or persons on this issue; and if he shares concerns that high density urban gull colonies appear to be causing extensive harm to other wild bird species. [40143/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Malcolm Noonan)

Urban gulls, primarily Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull, are opportunistic species and have a wide diet. Their foraging strategies include both scavenging and predatory behaviours. Young waterfowl frequenting urban parks e.g. Mallard chicks can be predated by such gulls.

To date, my Department has not taken the view that intervention to disrupt this natural predator-prey dynamic in such urban parks is warranted from either a regional or national bird conservation perspective.

While my Department has not had correspondence with local authorities on the specific issue of gull colonies predating other wild bird species, the NPWS does maintain contact with Fingal County Council in relation to general issues around gulls such as raising awareness to remind people not to feed gulls in public spaces.