Scolding seagulls could stop them stealing our food

THEY may be a staple of the British seaside, but herring gulls are less likely to swipe your chips if you shout at them, new research has found.

- LEWIS CLARKE

A study by the University of Exeter tested 61 gulls across nine coastal towns in Cornwall, revealing that aggressive vocal cues — specifically shouting — were most effective at deterring the birds.

Researchers placed a sealed Tupperware container filled with chips on the ground and waited for gulls to approach. As they did, one of three audio recordings was played: a man shouting, “No, stay away, that’s my food”; the same phrase spoken in a calm voice; or the birdsong of a robin.

Nearly half of the gulls exposed to the shouting fled within a minute. In contrast, only 15 per cent of gulls reacted to the calmly spoken voice by flying away, though many still edged away from the food. But 70 per cent of those that heard the robin song stayed put for the full experiment duration.