Shouting at seagulls really works, according to new research by scientists in the UK.
In tests carried out in coastal towns in Cornwall, herring gulls were more likely to leave food alone when they heard a man shouting than when they heard gentle talking or birdsong.
The experiment involved five men recording the same warning sentence twice – once in a loud, angry voice and once in a calm voice. Scientists then played these sounds, along with robin songs, to gulls that were tempted with chips in a sealed box. Gulls reacted most strongly to the shouting. Many flew away, while others backed off. When spoken to calmly, some gulls still moved, but they tended to walk away instead of flying.
The study showed that gulls notice how people speak and respond more to angry tones. This is similar to how dogs or horses react to human voices, even though gulls are wild animals, not pets.
Urban gulls are clever and watch people closely. Past studies have shown they can follow our gaze and even choose snacks based on the colour of crisp packets we’re eating from. But while they may seem common in towns, herring gulls are actually in decline. Their numbers along the coast have dropped by half in the last 50 years.
Scientists hope this research helps people find kinder ways to stop gulls from stealing food.
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