Fine feathered friend fenced in | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

New Redcliffs residents Minsky and Erin have their neighbours in a flap.

The black-backed gulls have taken up residence in the Christchurch suburb in roadside gravel where they are planning to have their family.

So concerned were locals for their well-being, that one contacted Christchurch fencing contractor Mark Quinn, and now Minsky and Erin's "home" is secure.

"The cars are quite close, and once the chicks hatch, we don't want them hopping out onto the road," Quinn said.

"So now we've well and truly locked the buggers in."

Quinn said the fence would stay there, free of charge, until the young family had left the nest.

Christchurch City Council coastal area park ranger Scott Butcher said locals had contacted him asking if gull could be relocated.

"It's not the best thing to do because it's disturbing to the bird.

"The bird has obviously selected that site for a reason. I have no idea what that is, but we've got to respect that and work around it," said Butcher.

The incubating period for the eggs is 27 days, and the chicks will fly from the nest after about 50 days.

Butcher said threatened and rare birdlife which lives in the estuary, took higher priority, but many people had seen the gull and taken an interest.