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Jul 2016
11:34am, 28 Jul 2016
60 posts
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bonners
Not sure if this should be in general chat or in training, but as the title says really.
I live in a seaside area and this year for some reason the breeding season seems to be more terrifying than ever. Which ever direction I leave my house in I get attacked when running and occasionally when walking. I find it difficult to get mad with them as actually they are just showing a very strong parental instinct to protect their young. The only trouble is the main threat they see to their young appears to be me!
On my worst run I had three separate attacks, which typically consist of a swoop in from behind, poop all down my back (which I believe they deliberately use as a weapon) and then the beak trying to scrape/peck my head as they finish the attack. I've had a couple of grazes to show for it, but nothing worse so far.
As I'm getting used to the nest locations I am getting more wary, but all the neighbours must think I'm slightly potty, as I'm constantly swivelling to watch their approach and then I madly wave my arms and shout wildly which seems to stop that attack. The only trouble is it seems to enrage them. This morning felt a little bit like I was in a WWII movie as about six of them lined up for the attack one after the other like a line of Stukas whilst I'm running around like a loon trying to see them off.
So, any fetchies got any better ideas about how to avoid? Is there something in the numbers this year that is making the problem worse? I wonder why they see runners as more of a threat than walkers, is it simply speed? When I'm running with the wife we dont seem to get attacked!
As I said, I do sneakily admire their persistence, but it is getting quite terrifying going for a run! Now is going to be the worst part of the season as the youngsters are leaving the nests and are wandering dozily around, so it is getting more and more difficult to predict the attack locations.
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Jul 2016
11:52am, 28 Jul 2016
12,059 posts
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mulbs
You win for the best thread title today.
I'm about as far inland as you can get but don't remember experiencing anything like you describe when I did live on the coast.
I occasionally get a cross goose honk and hiss at me when running but your seagulls seem on a mission!
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Jul 2016
12:07pm, 28 Jul 2016
6,860 posts
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becca7
Possibly daft but I've heard that if you wear a hat that has eyes on the back of it, so that it looks like you are staring at the bird, can be a deterrent.
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Jul 2016
12:09pm, 28 Jul 2016
16,225 posts
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Diogenes
Lol. I was tempted to reply 'by not being a seagull.'
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Jul 2016
12:14pm, 28 Jul 2016
34,203 posts
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Velociraptor
There are places on my corner of the coastline that are plagued by divebombing seagulls protecting their young. I just avoid running in those places.
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Jul 2016
12:14pm, 28 Jul 2016
61 posts
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bonners
Actually, the hat thing does make sense becca, because I do manage to see them off if I stare them down.
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Jul 2016
12:15pm, 28 Jul 2016
6,224 posts
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Nicholls595
Carry a tennis racket?
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Jul 2016
12:16pm, 28 Jul 2016
17,519 posts
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fetcheveryone
Take chips / ice cream as a peace offering? 
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Jul 2016
12:17pm, 28 Jul 2016
12,607 posts
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Wriggling Snake
Sounds awful, back in Cirencester we had a pair of buzzards who did the same, we just avoided them, there was only one.
Basically, very long term, you have to fins out where their nest are and make sure they can't nest there...
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Jul 2016
12:23pm, 28 Jul 2016
7,535 posts
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Schnecke
Blimey - sounds a bit Hitchcockian! I'm heading to the Cornish coast shortly, and I'm really looking forward to doing some running while I'm there, but I'm a bit worried about divebombing seagulls now. I have my chips nicked by a cheeky seagull in the past, but don't think I've ever actually been attacked. Might have to manufacture some 'eyes' to go on the back of my running cap ....
(By the way, your real name wouldn't be Tippi Hedren by any chance, would it? )
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