Description
The Seagull Nest Hub from Vivara Pro provides a safe and sustainable breeding place for seagulls on roofs in harbour and industrial areas. In these environments, natural breeding sites are disappearing at an increasing rate, causing species such as the Lesser Black-backed Gull and the Herring Gull to migrate to urban areas. With the Seagull Nest Hub, flat roofs become valuable breeding grounds.
A safe nesting site for Seagulls
Seagulls naturally breed in open, clear areas with light shelter. The Seagull Nest Hub mimics these conditions. The structure provides seagulls with a sheltered and stable breeding site, similar to natural ground nesting sites along the coast or on small islands.
The design includes a windscreen that provides protection against strong winds and other birds that come too close. The sloping side ensures that the birds can see their surroundings clearly, which is important for their safety. Correct positioning (the gravel tray facing south) ensures that there is always sufficient shade. There are safe places for young chicks to hide.
Benefits of the Seagull Nest Hub
- Provides suitable nesting sites for gulls on roofs in port and industrial areas
- Prevents disruption of seagull populations due to loss of natural breeding grounds
- Helps to ensure a balanced distribution of breeding colonies outside densely populated city centres
- Reduces unwanted interactions between people and seagulls
- Contributes to nature-inclusive construction and biodiversity in urban environments
Practical experience and results
Large-scale pilot projects have demonstrated that the Seagull Nest Hub is not only well accepted by seagulls, but also contributes to reducing nuisance in urban areas. By offering alternative breeding sites on industrial roofs, colonies move to suitable and safe locations. This creates a better balance between nature and human use of space.
Application in nature-inclusive projects
The Seagull Nest Hub is suitable for use in new construction, renovation or redevelopment of industrial or maritime zones. The system can be easily integrated on flat roofs of warehouses, commercial buildings or terminals. Vivara Pro can provide support with installation and maintenance, tailored to local conditions and species policy.
Suitable species
The Seagull Nest Hub has been developed for various types of coastal and urban gulls, including:
- Little Gull
- Herring gull
- Common gull
The Seagull Nest Hub is also suitable for the Oystercatcher.
Developed by Joanna van der Leun
The Seagull Nest Hub was designed by Joanna van der Leun in collaboration with Vogelbescherming Nederland (Bird Protection Netherlands) and Vivara Pro. Drawing on her expertise in nature-inclusive design, she developed a solution that is both ecological and practical. The design focused on the behaviour of seagulls: their preference for overview, shelter and safety. The result is a breeding ground that perfectly matches their natural needs, but applied in an urban context.
Vivara Pro – specialist in nature-inclusive solutions
Vivara Pro designs and develops ecological facilities that contribute to biodiversity within urban and industrial areas. With solutions such as the Seagull Nest Hub, active efforts are being made to promote sustainable use of space, benefiting both nature and people.
