Urban gulls = sentinels of pollution & biodiversity indicators.
Barcelona’s case shows how citizen reports + science can guide adaptive strategies.
What’s your city doing to manage urban wildlife?
#UrbanGulls #NatureInCities
What makes a rooftop attractive to gulls?
✅ Building height = most significant predictor
✅ Proximity to port, coast & green areas matter too
Urban structure + food access = nesting success
#UrbanWildlife #UrbanGulls
Barcelona hosts 314–509 breeding pairs of Yellow-legged gulls 🐦
Hotspots? Near the historic center & coast, with occasional shifts northeast.
Citizen science + spatial modeling = powerful urban ecology insights!
#UrbanGulls #CitizenScience
Counted another 1,980 LBBGs into roost from WNW-NE of Shrewsbury this evening, which along with a few smaller counts elsewhere means there are 💥5,500+💥 roosting on those all important roofs! Staggering 🤯 #urbangulls #shropshirebirding #seabirdscount
Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull shouting amongst the "bird deterrent" roof spikes
Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull on its nest roof
Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull in a car park
Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull drinking from a gutter below its nest roof
Possibly the last #seagullSunday visit to the Shrewsbury gullery today: at least 55 fledged LBBGs but a lot missing, hopefully gone on to pastures new #urbangulls #superseabirdSunday #shropshirebirding
Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull stretching its new wings on its nest roof
Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull on its nest roof
Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull on its nest roof, willing its wings to grow
3cy (2nd-summer) Yellow-legged Gull with non-breeding 2cy Lesser Black-backed Gulls on an industrial roof, through a couple of industrial fences
They got so big! Another check on the Shrewsbury gullery today, some getting ready to go, but others still downy. 3cy YLG loafing with the immatures #urbangulls #shropshirebirding
Small, roughly week old, Lesser Black-backed Gull chick in the nest
Middle-sized Lesser Black-backed Gull chicks on a roof
Large Lesser Black-backed Gull chick slowly losing its down
One of the oldest Lesser Black-backed Gull chicks in the colony taking short flappy flights on its roof
Another #seagullSunday added a few more to the tally at the Shrewsbury gullery. Now 104 LBBG and 12 Herring chicks ranging from hatchling to, er, flapling #urbangulls #seabirdscount #shropshirebirding
A Lesser Black-backed Gull chick doing a penguin impression in front of a plastic owl
Herring Gull and chick on a roof
Herring Gull pair and three chicks on a roof
Another #seagullSunday at the Shrewsbury gullery saw counts of 67 LBBG chicks from 33 checked nests, and a whopping 10 Herring chicks from 6 nests. 16 LBBG and 2 HG nests still sitting #urbangulls #seabirdscount #shropshirebirding #superseabirdSunday
Lesser Black-backed Gull chick walking down a roof
Two Lesser Black-backed Gull chicks nestled in rooftop vegetation
A Lesser Black-backed Gull chick on a roof
Herring Gull and chick on a roof
Checked on the #Shrewsbury gullery this evening and it was a chickfest. Downy bundles all over the place 🐥 #urbangulls #seabirdscount #shropshirebirding
A collage of gull nests on a Shrewsbury roof. Top, the view from the plane courtesy of Claire; middle, the view of the same nests from a car park; bottom, the phonescoped view of the lefthand two nests, a Herring Gull on the ridge and a Lesser Black-backed Gull below it
From the plane to the car park to the scope - locating, confirming and identifying more incubating gulls in the Shrewsbury gullery on another #seagullSunday. 62 LBBG and 7 Herring nests so far... #urbangulls #seabirdscount #shropshirebirding
Incubating adult Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls in a rooftop colony
Three incubating adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls in a rooftop colony
An incubating adult Herring Gull enjoying some shade in a rooftop colony
Aerial photo of part of the Shrewsbury gullery, containing some of the nests seen in the previous photos
Spent some of #seagullSunday down to earth, ground-truthing some of our aerial survey findings. Five Herring and 30 LBBG nests in one small section #urbangulls #seabirdscount #shropshirebirding
An aerial view of the centre of Shrewsbury, showing English Bridge at the the left of the image.
A view of the industrial rooftops of Shrewsbury as seen from the back of a light aircraft.
A light aircraft cockpit showing the pilot and gull observer.
It was a fascinating. We now know a little bit more about how little we know about the gulls that nest on the commercial rooftops of Shrewsbury!
This was the view from the rear, with @shropshirebirdlass.bsky.social as surveyor in charge🙂
#ShropshireBirding
#UrbanGulls
A sea of flat roofs in northern Shrewsbury
Dots on roofs, the gullery
Several gulls on the roofs where it all started in Shrewsbury
Reflecting on our survey (thanks for the idea Claire!)
Fantastic opportunity to see the Shrewsbury gullery from a different angle this evening 🛩 Many thanks to all involved #shropshirebirding #urbangulls #seabirdscount
A pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls mating on a roof whilst another adjusts its new nest nearby, all oblivious of the recently fitted bird spikes!
An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull incubating on a rooftop nest
Two Lesser Black-backed Gull nests in close proximity on a roof
One of a record 5 Herring Gull nests located on Shrewsbury roofs today
I missed a #seagullSunday last week, and haven't they been busy! The Shrewsbury gullery contains 36+ LBBG nests and a record 5 Herring Gull nests so far... #urbangulls #seabirdscount #shropshirebirding
Adult Herring Gull on the nest on a Shrewsbury roof
Pair of adult Herring Gulls on a roof
Squabbling Lesser Black-backed Gulls
8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on a Shrewsbury roof
A massive 16 Herring Gulls in the Shrewsbury gullery this morning along with ten times as many LBBGs - nest sites are starting to become valuable #urbangulls #seabirdscount #shropshirebirding
A smart pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on their breeding roof
A smart pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls engaging in some pair bonding on their breeding roof
Another smart pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on their breeding roof
Just look at those legs! 😎 Another sunny Sunday in the Shrewsbury gullery, lots of activity and just maybe one or two sitting already #urbangulls #seabirdscount #shropshirebirding
Long-calling male Lesser Black-backed Gull on his nesting roof
Female Lesser Black-backed Gull getting settled on her nesting roof
Pair of Herring Gulls looking comfortable on their potential nesting roof
Visiting potential parents on #mothersday in the Shrewsbury gullery. At least 121 LBBGs and 14 Herrings today, most paired up and some settling down 🤞 #urbangulls #seabirdscount #shropshirebirding
A smart pair of adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls on a roof where they will hopefully breed this summer
An early visit to the Shrewsbury gullery today: at least 43 pairs of LBBGs and 4 pairs of Herrings back on territory is a great start to the season #urbangulls #seabirdscount #shropshirebirding
Called in at the Shrewsbury gullery this evening to see one of the young Herrings is all grown up 😍 And a 2cy YLG had joined the loafing immatures #urbangulls #summergulling
Wide variation in the Shrewsbury gullery today: sitting birds, tiny chicks and fledged juveniles. Could some have tried again following disturbance from roofing work? 🤔 #urbangulls #seabirdscount
From balls of fluff to fully fledged juvs, the Shrewsbury gullery was in full swing this morning. At least 85 young LBBGs & 2 Herrings, along with a flock of 170 non-breeding 2cy/3cys #urbangulls #seabirdscount
When you've never been anywhere near the Sea in your entire life. LBBG🪶
#Gulls #Birds #UrbanGulls
#Shropshire #UKwildlife
A flying visit to the Shrewsbury gullery today produced dozens of fluffy chicks on the rooftops. Looks like a good year 🤞 #urbangulls #seabirdscount
Spying on central Birmingham's rooftop #urbangulls from the Secret Garden on the library today. Nests and chicks of LBBGs and Herrings on the ICC. We need more rooftop vantage points in Shrewsbury... #seabirdscount
First visit of the season to the Shrewsbury gullery this morning where despite some roof removal, a remarkable 33 LBBG nests and 2 Herrings 🤞 #urbangulls #seabirdscount
Probably the last of my regular updates from the Shrewsbury gullery - they're starting to leave home! 😭 20+ fully fledged LBBGs today 💪🐥 #urbangulls #seabirdscount
Another week on, and fledging is underway in the Shrewsbury gullery! Some are looking so grown up, others less so, but all healthy 🥳 #urbangulls #seabirdscount
Amazing variation in the record 87 LBBG chicks in the Shrewsbury gullery at the moment, and even a couple of adults still sitting patiently #urbangulls #seabirdscount
They grow up so fast! A few of the older LBBG chicks are on the verge of fledging in the Shrewsbury gullery this evening 🐥 #urbangulls #seabirdscount
