An Easter egg hunt in Inverness descended into chaos after a flock of seagulls launched what witnesses are describing as a “coordinated” attack on families taking part in the event, leaving Highland Council declaring war on the birds.

The incident took place during the city centre’s Great Easter Egg Hunt over the Easter weekend, when adult gulls began swooping repeatedly at parents and young children searching for eggs. Sixteen separate bird-related incidents were reported by attending families, with some members of the public struck by the diving birds.

 

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Witnesses described the gulls as working together, with some birds watching for an opportunity while others called in reinforcements and then executed swooping runs on groups below. The behaviour was clearly organised around nest protection, with the gulls targeting anyone who strayed too close to nesting sites.

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In response, Highland Council deployed a trained falcon to the area to deter the birds, and launched a new public reporting tool allowing residents to log encounters with seagulls, including the date, location and a description of what happened.

Why It Matters

Seagulls, particularly herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls, have become an increasingly assertive presence in urban areas across the UK as their coastal habitats have declined and food availability in towns has risen. Their nesting season runs through spring and summer, and territorial behaviour peaks when eggs or chicks are nearby.

For the children who turned up expecting a fun Easter hunt and found themselves dodging dive-bombing seagulls instead, it was a memorable Easter for all the wrong reasons. The council has not yet said what further steps it plans to take if the falcon deterrent proves insufficient.

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