Holidaymakers heading south for a staycation should look up – as seagulls are more likely to steal your ice cream.
A study found that gulls in the south of Britain, especially in the West Country, are bolder than those up north.
The greater presence of holidaymakers, with their ice creams and fish and chips, may have made the birds less timid, because the chances of being able to snatch some food are higher.
Researchers at the universities of Plymouth and Glasgow are carrying out a project using an app called Gulls Eye, which asks people to record their interactions with seagulls.
Early results show seagulls are less nervous in the south, where they are willing to get closer to people.
A study found that gulls in the south of Britain, especially in the West Country, are bolder than those up north
In Brixham, the popular Devon fishing town on the so-called ‘English riviera’, seagulls get within 11.8 metres – less than 40 feet – of people.
In Plymouth, where the city offers even more fast food options, the gulls approach at an average distance of 11.7 metres.
But further north, in Glasgow, they stay twice as far away, on average, at more than 80 feet, or 25 metres, from people.
In Shetland, this increases to almost 74 metres – more than 240 feet.
Dr Ruedi Nager, a seabird researcher from the University of Glasgow, who provided the snapshot results from across the UK, said: ‘There is a geographical difference in how bold seagulls are, it appears.
‘They are more willing to approach people in the south and more reluctant in the north.
‘In the south there may be more pasties and fish and chips being eaten, so there are more gains for seagulls.
‘But also there has been a decline in fishing on the south coast, so seagulls can’t get as much food from fishing discards as they used to.’
In Brixham, pictured, the popular Devon fishing town on the so-called ‘English riviera’, seagulls get within 11.8 metres – less than 40 feet – of people
The Gulls Eye project involves researchers who have previously shown giving a seagull a hard stare will make it fly away.
But the Gulls Eye Project is aimed at making people more sympathetic to gulls, which are often opportunistic because they are hungry.
The Gulls Eye app asks people to note whenever they see a seagull and estimate how far away it is in bus lengths, with one length approximately 10 metres, or 33 feet.
The app is so far being used by people in Brixham, Plymouth, Birmingham, Glasgow and Shetland.
The Gulls Eye Project app can be found on the website of Glasgow University, at www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/gullseye/.
Dr Naedi said: ‘The presence of human food triggers changes in behaviours in gulls.
‘Towns and cities are not that different from one of their natural foraging habitats where gulls keep an eye from a high spot and watch out for food waste.
‘This behavioural switch may increase anxiety and fear in humans but many seagulls do still keep their distance, although people and seagulls are becoming more tolerant of each other over time – you do see people sitting eating on outside tables with a seagull right on top of the table next to them.
‘Next we want to understand if they behave differently among people who are more or less welcoming.’
