The mild winter may advance the arrival of nuisance seagulls in Courier Country’s coastal communities.
Although the normal nesting season usually gets under way in April, councils are warning that warmer conditions might get the birds in the mood for mating much earlier.
Aberdeenshire Council is one of the authorities to make an early plea to residents to join the fight against the problem gulls, which have moved from their traditional habitat of coastal cliffs in the Mearns to the easier food pickings available in towns.
That has led to increasing numbers of complaints about the aerial menace, and growing reports of attacks by protective parents once their brood has hatched.
People are urged to start thinking about carrying out preventative works to properties.
These can include roof-mounted spikes or nets to deter landing and nesting, or even the use of a gel which makes birds think a surface is on fire.
Some councils employ hawks to patrol buildings in order to scare off gulls.
Nesting normally takes place between April and June, but can happen much earlier in milder weather.
David Aitchison, chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee, said: “The council does not advocate the killing of gulls and their young, and so the focus at the moment is on deterrents, preventative measures and on nest and egg removal.
“Action needs to be planned early once the chicks have hatched it’s too late to do much to reduce the gull numbers.
Committee vice-chairman Stephen Smith added: “We regularly receive complaints about gulls in our towns and villages, whether that relates to the noise they make, attacks on humans and pets or simply mess from their droppings, but people can start to claim their streets back from the birds.
“At a basic level this can mean being mindful of how litter and food waste is disposed of, but other measures, such as preventing chicks from hatching in the first place, are available, depending on the level of the problem.”