Hi,
I work in the Westfield Southland shopping centre in Cheltenham. Over the past few months when working late at night, I have been shocked by the quantity of seagulls who have chosen the roof of the shopping centre to roost on at night. First I could hear their calls, then I saw them when outside flying off the roof and back on again in their hundreds. There are feathers everywhere in the car park and even inside the building. When I have started very early in the morning, between 6.30am and 7.00am, I have been able to see them taking off. There is this very long column of gulls headed towards the east, which then tails off towards the south, but still there are birds taking off from the roof. There has to be thousands of them! Is this a temporary roosting place or will they nest there as well? Does anyone know? I knew the gulls were over-breeding, but although I have always gone to the beach, I have never seen so many gulls in one place in my life.

Where are you from? Melbourne, Australia

Hi
There was a news report about the problem 18 months ago. A copy of the report is on this webpage. http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1195030.htm
It sounds like they will gradually take over the town where ever they can find food.