Claire Reid
A family say they're worried for their own safety after being targeted by flock of aggressive seagulls, who have nested at their home.
Dave Baker, 43, and wife Nicki, 41, say they have to arm themselves with brooms or walking sticks if they want to leave their home and have to pop up a parasol if they want to take their pooch on a short walk around the garden.
Dave claims the birds are taking part in ‘coordinated attacks’ on him, his wife and their 10-year-old daughter Katrina.
Opening up about life with the ‘dangerous’ birds, Nicki said: “Yesterday it took me three attempts to get home.
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“It’s very stressful for us as a family. On school days, Dave has to go outside first and open the car door so that Katrina can dash outside without being attacked.”
She went on: “When I go out by myself, I have a walking stick to fend off the birds. I used to carry an umbrella but it wasn’t very practical.
“Usually they prefer to attack in groups and dive-bomb you one at a time, like it’s coordinated. They swoop down, with claws out and they can get very close. They are psychos.
“Mostly it’s just us they target but some passersby get attacked too. The other day I saw a dog walker waving a plastic bag over her head as she tried to get away.”
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The family moved into the seaside bungalow in Conwy’s Kinmel Bay two years ago, and soon discovered their new home was a nesting spot for Herring Gulls - but things had remained relatively calm until last year, when a chick fell from the roof.
Nicki explained: “The parents seemed to blame us and the dog.”
The chick, who injured its wing in the fall, is still nesting at the property, which seemingly caused its parents to go into over-protective overdrive.
The issue has got so bad, a roofer even refused to carry out work on the property’s roof, meaning the family are now having to live with leaks.
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Gulls are protected by law and it is illegal to remove their eggs or to disturb their nests once they have begun nesting.
Dave added: “I’m worried for the safety of my wife and daughter,” he said. “If the birds were a pest, like rats, you could lay down poison.
"But the authorities seem to think human life is worth less than that of a flying rodent. If my daughter gets injured, however, I will take action.”
The family say they are now exploring options, including netting or spikes, but for now must wait until the chick is ready to fly the nest and its parents no longer have a young bird to look after.