Silver Gulls, commonly known as “seagulls”, are Australian native birds that are part of our coastal
Environment, and as such they are protected under the Victorian Wildlife Act 1975. Under this
Legislation it is an offence to harm. Kill, destroy, take or injure protected wildlife by any means without a
permit.
In recent years there has been increasing numbers of seagulls nesting on buildings in urban areas,
such as the Frankston’s CBD and Docklands. Seagulls can breed all year, but according to the
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), the peak breeding season occurs from July to October each year.

Available food supply:
Silver gulls are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will take whatever food is available, and their
populations can increase when an abundant food supply is available.
Available roosting sites:
Available roosting sites in their natural habitat, beaches and headlands, are increasingly limited due to
their current overabundance. This has caused Silver Gulls to find alternative flat open areas to roost
such as roofs, car parks, boats and piers.
Lack of a natural predator:
The Peregrine Falcon is one of the Silver Gull’s natural predator of the Silver gulls and would have
assisted in maintaining silver gull numbers. Due to overdevelopment and loss of suitable habitat the
peregrine falcon is now rarely seen in Frankston.

The presence of seagulls has a number of potential impacts on buildings, such as:
• Blockage of gutters and flooding
• Contamination of stormwater off roofs
• Corrosion of metal roofs
• Amenity issues involving unsightly fouling of roofs, cars, work and recreation areas
• Creation of slip hazards
• Animal welfare

There are a number of preventative measures available to help reduce the impacts of seagulls
including:
• Restricting access to available food
• Roof exclusion structures
• Roof modifications to remove potential nesting sites
• Frightening seagulls by using recordings that imitate ’birds of prey’;
• Removal of egg and nesting material from roofs but only with a DSE permit to do so and using a
licensed wildlife handler.

Seagull numbers can be controlled by reducing their available food supply. This can be done through
not feeding them and ensuring that food waste is not left at sporting events, the beach and unsecured
in the street or in bins.
Any details regarding these activities should be reported to Council on1300 322 322

Roof Exclusion Structures
The most effective long term solution is the use of appropriately fitted roof exclusion structures which
prevents access to rooftops by Silver Gulls. When effective these structures will restrict Silver Gulls
from roosting on roofs, causing the abovementioned issues, and eliminate the risk of birds becoming
entangled.

• Made with UV stabilised material, to provide a long term solution
• Taut and checked regularly to maintain tension
• Installed by experience contractors who guarantee their structures
• Not harmful to Silver Gulls while excluding them
• Allows easy access for rooftop maintenance activities
• Eliminate access to the roof by Silver Gulls to roost

• Made with inferior material, for example fishing line, that only provides a short term solution
• Creates loose and broken lines that crossover
• Allows Silver Gulls to roost on the roof through access points
• Not allowing access for rooftop maintenance as inferior zip gate structures can corrode and fail