Velsen residents urged to act now to avoid seagull nuisance this summer
Seagull nuisance peaks between May and August, disrupting daily life with noise and aggression. Velsen municipality advises residents to take preventive measures now, as legal protections for the birds limit action during breeding season.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Velsen |
| Protected Species | Seagulls (under Nature Conservation Act) |
| Breeding Season | February–September |
| Peak Nuisance Period | May–August |
| Preventive Measures | Clean roofs, anti-bird spikes, nets, predatory bird kites, avoid feeding |
| Legal Restrictions | Nest removal prohibited during breeding season |
The municipality of Velsen is responsible for informing residents about wildlife-related nuisances and enforcing regulations under the Nature Conservation Act. While it cannot directly intervene in seagull nesting, it provides guidance to help residents mitigate issues within legal boundaries.
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Start now to prevent seagull nuisance from April
Providing information on how to prevent seagull nuisance is the most important ‘weapon’ the municipality has. After all, seagulls fall under the Nature Conservation Act, which means that the municipality of Velsen and its residents are not permitted to take any action that could harm these seabirds. This means, for example, that a nest cannot be removed during the breeding season.
When does seagull nuisance occur?
Seagulls return to their breeding grounds in February and March. They prefer to build their nests in sheltered spots on flat roofs, such as near a chimney. By the end of April, the nests are ready for use. Until the eggs hatch, the nuisance is relatively minor. Most of the nuisance will be experienced once the eggs have hatched, which is between May and August.
Tips to reduce seagull nuisance
- Do not feed the seagulls. Not even with a chip or a piece of bread. Feeding leads to noise nuisance and aggressive behaviour from the seagulls.
- Keep your roof and gutters clean so that no twigs or leaves are left lying around that could be used as nesting material. The absence of nesting material makes your roof less attractive to seagulls.
- Do you have a flat roof? A thin layer of water on the roof can also help deter seagulls.
- Fit your roof with fluttering party flags or place a bird scarer (kite) in the shape of a predatory bird.
- Installing anti-bird spikes on roof edges, near skylights or on chimneys helps deter all types of birds that want to build nests. This also applies to seagulls.
Nest rules and preventive measures
Do you already have a nest on your roof? You are not permitted to remove it during the breeding season. The breeding season ends in September. From that point onwards, you may remove the old nests.
To make it more difficult for the seagulls to nest next year, you can stretch a net or wires over your roof. If possible, you can do this together with your neighbours. This will limit the space available for building a nest.