Fishing hook kills rare gull

The seagull, who had been a resident of Galley Hill, Bexhill, for a number of years, was taken to the Greensleeves veterinary centre by a concerned resident of Middlesex Road after it crashed to the ground.

Vets sedated the bird but, despite the hook being successfully removed during an hour long operation, unfortunately did not come out of the anaesthetic.

The Great Black-Backed Gull is considered to be the largest gull in the world with a wingspan between 146-160cm and an adult body size of approximately 28-31cm.

National Gull Rescue and Protection officer, Tim McKenzie, said the death of such a rare bird is a sad loss to the area:

"We've lost a long-term resident of Bexhill, the gull had lived on Galley Hill for around five years. It was a magnificent bird and it's a tragic way for it to go."

Tim said the bird died through no fault of its own and urges fishermen to discard of used fishing hooks responsibly:

"This needs to be a warning to fishermen. Some people discard their hooks at the end of the day without thinking of the consequences to wildlife."

Tim explained that some fishermen use small fish-shaped rubber bait in order to catch bigger fish and said gulls can't differentiate from the air:

"The gull thought he was eating what looked to him like a fish in the sea."

However the fish-shaped bait had a metal hook inside which proved fatal to the gull.

Tim said the bird was one of "only a very few Great Black-Backed Gulls on the entire south east coast."

Adding: "A few others live in Scotland, there's one in Dungeoness, and another lives off the south coast of France."

For further information visit the website at: www.seagullrescue.co.uk