In Bournemouth, a particularly audacious seagull, affectionately dubbed Greg, has been making waves among locals and visitors alike.
Known for his brazen tactics, this feathered menace has been snatching food straight from the hands of unsuspecting Greggs customers.
The drama unfolds daily outside a local Greggs bakery.
Patrons, eager to enjoy their pastries and sandwiches, find themselves under attack from Greg, who swoops down with surprising aggression.
One recent encounter involved a man in a white t-shirt enjoying a pizza slice, only to have Greg dive-bomb directly behind him.
The startled pizza lover barely managed to save his lunch from the seagull’s clutches, while others were not so lucky.
Greg’s Strategic Perch
Greg has been spotted using a red phone box near the bakery as his lookout post.
Locals have noticed his clever ploys—standing guard at the phone box as customers leave with their sausage rolls and steak bakes.
As soon as the food is in hand, Greg swoops in, hoping to make off with a quick snack.
One eyewitness recounted, “I was fortunate to react in time, but I saw another guy lose his pizza slice to the gull.”
Seagull’s Opportunistic Nature
Greg’s behavior is part of a broader trend among city-dwelling gulls.
Known for their opportunistic feeding habits, these birds have adapted their diets to include human fast food like chips, burgers, and kebabs.
Gulls can consume a staggering amount of food relative to their body weight—equivalent to a 10-stone adult eating two stone worth of food each day, or 59 Big Macs!
Official Advice and Legal Protection
Despite the ongoing problems, Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council have urged visitors not to feed the seagulls and to be cautious with their food.
A council spokesperson stated, “We are limited in the actions we can take.
In a coastal area, this is part of life, and we encourage visitors not to feed the seagulls and avoid carrying food near high-traffic areas.”
The Bigger Picture
Bird expert Dominic Couzens has weighed in on the situation, noting that seagulls are highly intelligent and adaptive.
He pointed out that the gulls’ behavior is a reflection of human habits, saying, “They are not the problem.
We are the problem. The reason herring gulls started eating chips is that people would leave them behind and not put them in bins.” Couzens added, “Gulls are opportunistic and extremely adaptable.
They’re just taking advantage of the easy pickings.”
So next time you’re enjoying a meal in Bournemouth, keep an eye out for Greg—he’s always on the lookout for his next snack!
TDPel Media
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