Seagulls stir up mixed emotions – generally, people either love them or hate them. But, whichever side of that fence you sit on, it’s undeniable that seagulls are incredibly interesting birds. From their diets to their nesting season, seagulls have some compelling habits that many bird lovers simply can’t ignore. So, we’re here to answer all your burning seagull questions! From ‘where do seagulls nest’ to ‘is it illegal to feed seagulls’, here’s everything you need to know about gulls and their nesting and feeding habits to make sure you’re prepared for your next visit to the coast. 

When Is The Seagull Nesting Season?

Usually, the seagull nesting season lasts from April to July. During their mating season, seagulls are usually at their most aggressive, particularly if intruders get too close to their nests. This is often why seagulls attack people as they are trying to protect their young. 

Where Do Seagulls Nest?

You can find seagull nests in an increasingly large number of places. Commonly, seagulls nest in sand dunes, cliffs and inaccessible islands. However, seagull nesting spots have become more urban in recent years, particularly with herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls. You can often spot these species nesting on rooftops. Additionally, some seagull species may nest in trees, but most will build their nests on cliffs or on the ground. 

How Long Do Seagulls Nest?

The seagull nesting period can vary; however, generally, we can break it down like this:

1. Mating begins in early April
2. Seagulls nest building begins from early May onwards
3. The female lays her eggs from the beginning of May onwards
4. The gulls will then incubate the eggs, which can take up to three weeks to hatch
5. The first seagull chicks usually appear from the beginning of June onwards
6. Although the chicks grow quickly, they will not usually leave the seagulls nest for another 5 – 6 weeks. However, as they are fairly active through their nesting period, some chicks may fall to the ground or out of cover. The parents will continue feeding and protecting them on the ground if they are large and strong. Unfortunately, smaller chicks will likely die.
7. Finally, chicks will begin to fly the nest from late July to early August. 

What Does A Seagulls Nest Look Like?

A seagull’s nest is rather distinctive. Unlike many birds that build circular nests, the seagull constructs a cup-shaped nest made up of grasses and twigs. By the time the eggs hatch, the newborn chicks will be covered in down.

How Many Eggs Does A Seagull Lay?

Usually, a seagull will lay around two to four eggs. Both the male and female seagull will incubate this clutch until they hatch, which will take up to three weeks. 

What Is A Baby Seagull Called?

Unlike other bird chicks, such as owlets or eaglets, seagull chicks don’t have special names. Usually, they are simply called gull chicks. 

What Do Baby Seagulls Look Like?

Baby seagulls are notoriously fluffy, covered in thick mottled or speckled brown down with black legs. There are currently six breeding species of seagulls in the UK, and their chicks may differ slightly in appearance. However, most are covered with brown feathers. In some species, the chicks may only have speckled heads. 

When Do Baby Seagulls Leave Their Parents? 

When they are only a few days old, most seagull chicks will leave the nest in favour of nearby vegetation. This is for better protection. However, the parents will continue to feed and care for their young during this time. 

Usually, baby seagulls will fledge after five to six weeks, and the parents will often care for them throughout this time and for a short period afterwards. 

How Long Do Seagulls Live? 

Seagulls are long-living birds and have a lifespan of around twenty years. However, many seagulls are living longer now, with some reaching well over thirty years old. The oldest seagull died at 49 years old. Although most seagulls are not lucky enough to reach this age, many common gulls live to be around thirty-two to thirty-three, making seagulls one of the longest-living birds.

Do Seagulls Mate For Life?

Usually, seagulls do mate for life. However, if a couple struggles to produce healthy chicks, they may divorce in favour of finding a more suitable partner. Unfortunately, seagull divorcees are often deemed less attractive to younger seagulls looking for a mate and may find themselves alone through several nesting seasons. 

Do Seagulls Return To The Same Nest?

Seagulls are extremely territorial birds. So, if they remain undisturbed throughout a breeding season, seagulls will return to the same nesting spot the following year. They will often rebuild nests in this spot if they have deemed it safe. 

Is Removing Seagull Nests Legal? 

All species of UK seagulls are currently protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. This law states that you can not intentionally injure or kill any gull or gull chick or destroy an active nest. However, the law does recognise that certain circumstances may call for adequate control measures. In such cases, the UK administration can issue licences that allow nests to be destroyed or birds to be killed if either poses a serious threat to agriculture, public health or air safety.

Find out more about the law on seagull protection here.

Is It Illegal To Feed Seagulls In The Wild?

Currently, it is not illegal to feed seagulls in the wild. However, doing so is known to cause problems, as colonies of seagulls will flock to places that they think will provide a good food source. In other words, feeding one or two seagulls can lead to them bringing all their family and friends back to that same spot, causing an immediate pest problem. Additionally, these clever birds will quickly catch on to the fact that the public will give them food, potentially leading to attacks on people if they think they are likely to have food. 

However, certain places are considering making the feeding of seagulls a criminal offence. For example, East Devon District Council became the first to make the act an offence, as gulls were becoming dangerous pests. So, if you do plan on feeding seagulls, it’s best to check the council’s stance before you go ahead. 

Food For Seagulls

Feeding wild birds of any species is a fun pastime, and, if you’d like, you can feed seagulls too. Although seagulls are perfectly capable of finding their own food, there’s nothing stopping you from giving them a little feed if you’re near the coast. However, if you’d like to feed seagulls, it’s important to do so sparingly. If you start feeding one or two seagulls, they’ll quickly call all their friends over to help beg for any food you have, and you don’t want your lovely day out at the beach spoiled by a colony of seagulls! 

Additionally, think about where you’re feeding gulls. Try not to feed them around busy areas full of businesses or visitors, like hotels or campsites, as seagulls will quickly become horrible and dirty pests in these places.

Here are some foods that are safe to feed to seagulls in small amounts:

• Unsalted or low salted peanuts
• Sunflower seeds
• Vitamin-rich cereals, such as Cheerios
• Cooked spaghetti
• Potatoes
• Pineapple
• Bananas
• Apples
• Watermelon
• Pine nuts
• Pecan nuts

Of course, if you live near the coast and find the odd seagull or two popping up in your garden, you can feed them some of these foods if you’d like. However, remember that seagulls can quickly become an invasive species and may even spread diseases. 

Find out how to minimise the spread of disease at your bird feeders. 

Final Words on Seagull Nesting 

Seagulls are certainly intriguing, if sometimes pesky, birds. If you find a seagulls nest on your home’s roof or while on a walk, it’s best to leave it alone – you know now how protective seagulls can be! It’s best to stick to admiring them flying above your head on a day trip to the beach. However, don’t forget that seagulls can quickly become pests if you plan on feeding them. Although feeding seagulls may seem like an innocent pastime while at the beach, please consider the residents of the place before doing so! 

Do you have any thoughts on our seagull nesting facts? Let us know!

Gemma Sharp

Gemma Sharp is the resident writer for Garden Bird, a supplier of premium bird food and accessories. She has had a genuine love for our feathered friends from a young age, and has dedicated a lot of her time to learning all there is to know about them. If you’re struggling to pick the right bird feed for your garden, need help identifying a type of wild bird, or can’t decide where to put a nesting box, Gemma is the person to go to! She is passionate about sharing her years of learnt knowledge with the public. In her free time, she can be found feeding birds at home with her three young boys.