A LEADING expert on urban seagulls has been enlisted by town councillors to help manage their town’s bird problems.

Researcher Peter Rock, of Bristol University, has been investigating the lives and habits of Britain’s gulls for more than 35 years.

Now he’s been asked to turn his attention to Liskeard’s gull population by a town council working group set up last year in response to residents’ complaints about the problems caused by the birds.

Facilities manager Tony Misson said: ‘The town council is arranging for Peter Rock to visit the town in late April with the aim of drawing up a study of the seagull population within the town, both resident gulls and those that visit from nearby towns.

‘We are hoping this will inform a better understanding of the gull behaviours and how we can manage them.

‘What we’re hoping he’ll come back with is a narrative of what’s happening in the town and why and how we can manage the situation. The idea is that he will do the survey and then we’ll arrange for him to come back and give a public presentation of his findings.’

Part of the study will involve the use of a 25m viewing platform which will enable Mr Rock to study nesting and feeding sites.

Mr Misson emphasised that the research won’t be into individual sites, but will cover the entire town.