Cull a gull, pay $100k

They're sometimes known as "rats with wings" but hatred of the humble seagull could come at a hefty price.

Someone has been shooting gulls, and doves, leaving the birds alive but fatally injured.

In one week, seven seagulls, blackback gulls and a couple of doves have been tended to by the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre on Maunu Rd.

Manager Robert Webb said few people realised the red-billed seagull's "status" had gone from protected to endangered.

"The fine for killing a (red billed) seagull is $100,000 and $5000 for each bird thereafter," he said.

He believes someone was targeting the birds in Tikipunga, where most of the injured birds hailed from.

Three seagulls have had to be put down in the past seven days after slug gun pellets were discovered in their back or shoulders.

Another injured seagull was brought in with spinal injuries.

Mr Webb suspected something was thrown at the bird, which was put down.

"Birds take an unnecessary risk in this dry spell and go to places where they shouldn't go to forage for food and water because they are so hungry and dehydrated.

"The other thing is that the strong easterly winds on the coast is chasing the birds further inland."

Department of Conservation biodiversity programme manager Keith Hawkins said the shootings were of concern as the red billed seagulls were vulnerable as their population was declining.

He has urged anyone that witnessed a wildlife being injured, disturbed or killed to report the matter on the DoC hotline 0800 DoCHOT or 0800362468.