SAVAGE GULLS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17235, 15 April 1930, Page 7

SAVAGE GULLS

WOMAN & GIRL ATTACKED SEVERELY PECKED A woman, who lives in Bassett road, Auckland, and her daughter, aged eight years, were the victims 01 a savage attack bv black-backed gulls when they were crossing from the Parnell foreshore to Wilson’s Bay recently on the big sewer which spans that portion of llobsou Bay. The child lay down and screamed, while her mother waved her arms and tried to strike the birds with a shopping basket. They managed to make their way back to the Parnell shore. In describing her experience, the woman said that she went that way because the girl liked the novelty of walking along the big sewer-top across the bay. When nearly half-way across they disturbed a big Hock of small gulls, which dew away. A little further on four big gulis were sitting on the concrete top. As the walkers approached they took to wing and then suddenly attacked. in attempting to beat the gulls oil', the woman and her child had to maintain their balance. There was considerable danger of slipping into fairly deep water, as the tide was full. During tin* tight she was severely pecked tin the face, arms and legs, but the girl practically escaped, through her mother shielding her. The black-backed gulls are notoriously savage, and have been known to attack people on beaches.—Auckland Star.