Brit: Why are seagulls protected?

Here's an interesting story from the other side of the pond, asking why rats with wings - aka seagulls - are protected.

For some reason seagulls are protected. Personally, unless they can stay on the coast, I’d be happy to lead a cull. Then I spotted it. A gull chick had fallen from a nest and the cat was after it. Mummy seagull and the whole furious tribe had been called in to save the day. We were under attack.