Man fined $6000 for repeatedly driving digger through gull colony
New Zealand: A man from North Canterbury has been fined $6,000 for repeatedly operating a digger through a large colony of protected Black-billed Gulls, resulting in the destruction of their nests. Clive Gordon used a utility vehicle and a 14-tonne digger to drive through a nesting area of approximately 1,000 gulls on his property in Belfast on November 20 and 21 of the previous year.
Following a public tip-off, the Department of Conservation (DoC) discovered the colony abandoned, with numerous dead chicks, broken eggs, and damaged nests. Gordon was prosecuted by DoC, pleaded guilty, and received his sentence in court today.
Andy Thompson, the DoC Mahaanui operations manager, expressed concern over the incident, highlighting the significant impact of such disturbances on the bird population. "The abandonment of a colony of this size is a serious setback for a species that is already declining at a rate faster than it can reproduce," Thompson stated.
Black-billed Gulls are native to New Zealand and face various threats, including habitat loss, introduced predators, weed encroachment, and disturbances that jeopardize their survival, according to Thompson.
The department has made it clear that it will take any similar incidents very seriously.
“Although the Department of Conservation acknowledges that Mr. Gordon was unaware that Black-billed Gulls are a protected species, lack of knowledge regarding their status is not a valid justification,” he stated.
“This incident was not only repeated but also intentional and egregious, involving the destruction of nests using the tracks and bucket of a 14-tonne digger.”
Thompson expressed his hope that there will be an increase in public awareness regarding Black-billed Gulls and their protected status.
“Black-billed Gulls are fully protected under the Wildlife Act, and it is illegal to disturb, harm, or kill them,” he added.
In New Zealand, disturbing protected birds and destroying their nests is a violation of the Wildlife Act 1953, which can lead to imprisonment and/or fines of up to $100,000.
9 January 2025
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