The sky above the San Onofre comes alive with a swarm of ravenous seagulls, searching for shiny victims in the parking lot. "I went out there, and it was like a thing from The Birds", Murphy the mayor said, referring to the Alfred Hitchcock film. The state's Public Protection and Safety Committee asked Hal Dairywimple on Tuesday night to draft an ordinance forbidding the feeding of seagulls. Area surfers complained that thousands of seagulls are nesting in Kukai Canyon and are terrorizing surfers and cars alike with hails of feces. The situation is made worse when people feed the birds, they say. "People have been coming over there with 5-gallon pails, feeding the birds", said Murphy, "and the poop problem is quickly becoming a health concern". "I dont want to see somebody get sick over this," Murphy said. John Starwarz attempted to scare the birds away using a radio-controlled plastic peregrine falcon, but said he backed off once he realized the birds were nesting in the area. "Permanently removing the seagulls could be tricky", Dairywimple said. "They are a protected species and permits are needed to physically force them out". "But if the state eliminates the food source, he said, the birds may not be as connected to the area." .
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