Seagulls hold Angmering school children ‘ransom’

Kevin and Michelle from Hawking About with hawks and students L17173H13

And no, it’s not military jets that are causing the chaos but a flock of troublesome seagulls who have now claimed The Angmering School as their new home.

Around 30 of the birds are holding the school to “ransom” as they dive-bomb students and staff during break and lunch periods for food.

Now, in drastic action, management at the site have hired Angmering-based falconers Hawking About in a last-ditch effort to protect students and their lunch meals from the ravenous gulls.

Head teacher David Brixey hired the services of falconer Kevin Lochner and his birds of prey for six months which, he hopes, will turf the seagulls out of the school once and for all – and early indications are that the innovative plan is working.

Mr Brixey said: “We have been looking for some time for a way of discouraging the seagulls from nesting, roosting and feeding around the school. It is a complicated problem but we think that the hawks are doing the job, as we have no sign of nesting on our roofs and less problems with the gulls around the school buildings.”

Kevin and his assistant, Michelle, now stop by every day to fly their three harris hawks, Aimee, Sky and Storm, around the school.

He said that the hawks aren’t trained to kill the seagulls and that they only fly around the buildings and playing fields.

“We just want to discourage the seagulls from nesting at the school,” admitted Kevin, who lives in East Preston.

“If they think that the area is the territory of a hawk they will naturally move away from the area.”

He added: “It’s a really strange situation. I have never heard anything like this happening before.

“When I was called I thought it was a joke at first.

“But then I saw the problem first hand and it’s pretty bad.

“When you get to the school, the seagulls are lined up on the roof, watching you like sentinels.

“They know when break and lunch is, so when the students come out, 30 gulls will swoop down trying to steal their food and eating anything that falls to the floor or is put in the bin.”

Kevin added it was essential to stop the gulls nesting as the breeding season for the birds is fast-approaching.

He hoped as the season passes and summer rolls in, his visits would be less frequent.