Seeking a solution to seagulls at Windansea
I would like to address an issue that is quietly plaguing Windansea and is being largely ignored at our collective peril — seagulls.
At first glance, they appear picturesque — suspended against a coastal sunset, gliding effortlessly over the Pacific, completing what visitors might describe as a “quintessential La Jolla moment.”
But speak to any parent who has attempted to unwrap a sandwich on the beach and you will understand what we are up against.
These birds do not “forage.” They conduct coordinated extractions.
They steal food from children’s hands with the precision of trained operatives. They dive into coolers and beach bags with no regard for zipper integrity. They litter. They defecate indiscriminately. They are flying rats but with better branding.
The true problem, however, is not their appetite. It is their complete lack of risk assessment. Because we tolerate their behavior, because we sigh and simply brush off the sand, they have learned there are no consequences for their behavior. In the seagull economy, reward vastly outweighs risk.
And that imbalance must be corrected.
Windansea is a jewel of our coastline. It should not function as an open-air buffet for winged vermin. If we can regulate short-term rentals, beach bonfires and alcohol, surely we can address this Hitchcockian nightmare.
Albert de Plazaola
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