Red-billed gull decoys

I was recently asked to quickly create some red-billed gull decoys. I joked they might be better of using a decoy picnicker but the reality is this is another native species that is in real trouble (conservation status declining). I posed the decoys with their tails up but with legs so they could be used standing or sitting if they need extra anchorage.

Unfortunately these decoys were snapped off at the leg, we are not sure how, as it would involve a lot of force. So…

I made some more, these have been redesign to bolt on to a 1M long 8mm diameter threaded rod.

Here is what they look like installed. We dug holes in the ground and used a little cement to lock them into place. Fingers crossed they work.

Photo by Tim Lovegrove.

**Update October 2019:** Win!

Note that the Northland Region Corrections Facility is making wooden Black-billed Gull nesting decoys, I don’t know how much they cost but they look cute!

A great article on the Wynyard gull colony project has been published here. Another one by Boffa Miskell. Ohhhh and another article in the Guardian!