Seagulls again being monitored at Helsinki's Market Square

print this

Two weeks ago, the City of Helsinki launched an intensive observation of seagulls, in order to detect the cause for the birds' increasingly disturbing behaviour. Over the past few years, the gulls have become a real nuisance at the capital's Market Square in the summer, with the most intemperate ones swooping down and snatching food straight from people's hands.
      The aim is to find out how exactly the birds get their food. Do they eat scraps from the ground or snatch food from someone's hand, or do people feed them, even though it is forbidden? Furthermore, the purpose is to see just how large a portion of their nourishment the gulls really get from the food at the Market Square.
      "If the observations indicate that a major part of the seagulls' food intake comes from the Market Square, it means that the refuse collection has to be improved", notes environmental inspector Raimo Pakarinen.
     
Biologist Esa Pienmunne is operating undercover, taking pictures and monitoring the seagulls. The researcher makes notes of the number and species of the gulls. In addition, he pays attention to whether or not the baby birds are fed by people or do they learn bad habits from their parents.
      Furthermore, Pienmunne is keeping an eye on the sort of food the gulls like best. "Apparently they like heavier food, as they leave all vegetables alone", he reports.
     
The research projectdoes not involve any methods which could cause debate on animal protection issues, the press release of the project states. However, new ways to chase away the troublemakers are being tested, as the previous methods have not done the trick.
      Raimo Pakarinen reports further that this summer the city does not intend to kill the unwanted visitors, even though such a last resort alternative was much discussed last summer.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki to get rid of only most troublesome seagulls from Market Square (17.8.2006)

Links:
  City of Helsinki, Environment Centre

Helsingin Sanomat