Viola Ross- Smith is a science communications manager with the British Trust for Ornithology. She is a highly educated seabird ecologist with expertise in the Lesser Black-backed Gull. We had the pleasure of catching up with her yesterday and wow, did she really paint a wonderful picture of the seagull on Flatholm island. In fact, she showed us the other ‘truer’ side of the seagull… the loyal partner (who comes back each year to the same mate), the passionate adventurer (who has been found as far as Gambia & Senegal in Africa), the protector who goes to any lengths to protect their young (i.e. dive bomb and peck if you come too close to their nests). It was interesting to hear about the different personalities of the gull some are shy characters who stay in the background and others are quite bold and curious.
What was fascinating was this concept of the seagull leaving the island to feed on the streets of Cardiff. Viola mentioned that it wasn’t strange to find KFC chicken bones (with lots of plastic) in the nesting area of the gulls on the island. They come into the city because there is easy food, they capitalise on us humans not recycling properly. However, even though the adult birds feed on the junk food, they tend to provide the healthier option to their young (i.e. fish, marine and freshwater invertebrates and earthworms etc.). Also, the main gulls on the island (Greater & Lesser Black Backed and Herring Gulls etc.) all have their own distinct calls and young chicks learn the call of their parents whilst still in the eggs (Amazing).
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