On Sun, 10 Nov 2002 22:06:00 -0000, "trevor.appleton"
wrote:

Back in September my bird feeders were covered in greenfinches, colat tits,
blue and great tits, the odd tree sparrow too.

Snip the rest ...
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Several years ago I had exactly the same problem. Unfortunately,
in my case it cannot be solved.

At the time of which I speak, gulls arrived in my district of Plymouth
(UK) Being in a city by the sea one can expect these beautiful birds
turned PEST !!!!! However, this was the first time that they nested.
The problem was added to by unthinking people actually feeding
them.

I said that the problem is unsolvable because I tried all the
legal methods, i.e. the City Council (You must be joking) and
the RSPB. There must be tens of thousands of them in and
around the ciity, fouling as they go; unhindered,as they
are protected.

From the mail (e-type and snail) I have received in reply
to an anguished comment a couple of months ago in another
newsgroup,, many people consider them to be VERMIN.

Yes, they are a beauty to hold, graceful and loved by many
but they definitely have an adverse effect upon other
birds. Even magpies - those magnificent bullies - have
been scared away, let alone the blue tits. I have been
even been deserted by two families of feuding robins.

Nothing I've tried has tempted small birds to overcome
the fear - perhaps of competition - posed by damned gulls.

I might just as well cover my lovely garden with decking :-(((
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