Seagulls swoop on Bexhill posties

Homeowners along Southcourt Avenue have reported delays of up to a week after postmen were injured by the airborne agressors nesting on a nearby roof.

But the man living next door to the gulls, John Burke, 64, is taking a balanced view of the affair.

He said: "We did wonder about our post, because we weren't aware that our postman, who's a jolly good chap, had actually been attacked.

"Seagulls are extremely aggressive when they have got young. Of course some silly fool should have picked up the phone to let us know why the post wasn't arriving, but postmen are good people who do a damn good job. For some reason the gulls have taken a dislike to the postmen and it's unfortunate they have to put up with this. Perhaps it's their red uniform."

In fact, says Tim McKenzie, founder of the National Gull Rescue and Protection, which works along the coast locally, Mr Burke is probably right.

He said: "We have been looking over the past year at the colour red and it seems to make the gulls quite frightened. Bristol City Football Club used to have a real problem with gulls nesting on their roof until they, by chance, painted their roof red. Now the gulls stay away.

"If you get a spoon of food and try to feed a baby gull it won't take it, but if you paint the spoon red, they will peck away at it."

Tim's theory is that baby gulls are taught to attack the colour red because their parents' beaks have a splash of bright red at the base, where the food is held.

He offered to supply a neutral jacket for Southcourt Road residents to leave out for a postman to change into, saying: "You wouldn't want to walk into a bullring wearing a red suit."

John, a semi-retired builder, had similar problems with a second nest on the other side on his house in 2009. He added: "In the past I have worked on roofs and if there was a nest anywhere near it we would have to abandon the job."

In January, seagulls were placed on a red list for species in serious decline. Their protected status means a 20,000 fine or six month imprisonment for anyone tampering with a bird or nest.

A Royal Mail spokesman said staff had apologised to addresses along Southcourt Avenue, admitting: "There has been some disruption to mail deliveries to a few addresses on Southcourt Avenue due to attacks by a pair of seagulls with young chicks."

But not all residents are appeased. Anthony Hamilton, whose post was also delayed, said he had been expecting time-sensitive legal documents. "I thought it was extraordinary, that I'd not received any mail. The whole week has been more or less post free.

"It's incredible that no-one thought to tell us anything. Important post is being delayed, and we should at least have been notified."

Fortunately the young gulls have flown the nest now, and the postmen estimate they should soon be able to resume a normal route within a few days.

Call Tim for advice and help dealing with gulls on 07765 114599.