Gulliver banished to Minquiers reef
A SEAGULL that has captured the hearts of hundreds of islanders in Jersey – and several of their hats – is settling in to his new home on the Minquiers reef.
Gulliver the herring gull was caught and taken to the JSPCA Animal Shelter after the Environment Department said it had received a ‘large number of complaints’ about it ‘pecking people’s heads’.
Fisheries vessel the Norman Le Brocq took the gull out to the reef as part of a routine patrol and released him on the slipway of Maitresse Ile. His right leg was tagged with a single red ring. A spokesman said ‘surveillance’ of the bird in St Ouen’s Bay had identified it was capable of foraging for its own food and they hoped it could ‘go on to raise its own young, free from human interference’.
He added: ‘We would be grateful to hear of any sightings of this bird on telephone 441600.’
Islanders reacted with fury after an Environment Department official said plans were in place to kill the bird, which was deemed a danger because of its tendency to swoop near to and peck humans and dogs.
The department quickly U-turned on that announcement and said other options were being considered.
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
