Seagull
Ring-billed and herring gulls damage flat roofs and create strike risk around airports and waterfront facilities.
How to identify
Medium to large birds, 17 to 26 inches long, with white bodies, gray wings, yellow bills, and webbed feet. Ring-billed gulls have a black ring near the bill tip.
Why it is a problem for commercial facilities
Gulls drop debris such as bones, rocks, and trash onto flat roofs, clogging drains and causing leaks. Their acidic droppings break down membrane roofing, and flocks near runways create bird strike risk.
Protected status
Federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Birds, active nests, and eggs cannot be harmed or disturbed without a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit. Deterrents and exclusion installed before nesting do not require a permit. Egg addling or nest removal requires a USFWS depredation permit.
How BSI controls it
- Rooftop grid wire on flat roofs, sized to keep gulls from landing
- Pond and open water netting for stormwater and retention ponds
- Bird exclusion netting for open structures and canopies
Where we see it most
Aviation, Commercial and industrial, Municipal and government.
Common questions
Is it legal to remove gull nests from my roof?
Not once eggs are present without a federal permit. Installing grid wire before nesting season prevents the problem legally.
How do you protect a flat roof from gulls?
Grid wire suspended over the roof denies gulls the long, open landing area they need, while maintenance crews can still walk beneath it.
Dealing with this species at your facility?
Send two photos and the project location. We will come back with a recommended system and scope.