Thousands of gulls nests and eggs have been removed from Inverness to combat the flying menaces, according to city centre managers.
Concerns about bird attacks in the Highland capital prompted a long running project to deter gulls from settling on city rooftops and breeding there.
Inverness Business Improvement District (Bid), which has led the efforts, told councillors at the City of Inverness Committee, that some 4,300 eggs and 2,500 nests have been removed since the initiative started in 2011.
Manager Mike Smith said that the project started in the city centre but had expanded to the Longman and Carse areas.
He added that there was an annual 7% increase in gull numbers.
Mr Smith said: “Gulls breed between the ages of four and 25, so you can see that we have a long-term problem. But we are making inroads.”
Councillor Ken Macleod said: “There has been a significant drop in the annoyance to city centre visitors and to the natives of the city.
“Bid has done a splendid job in decreasing the gulls, without harm to the gulls themselves.”
