Shout to Scare Off Seagulls, Study Finds

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter's Center for Ecology and Conservation has shed light on effective strategies to deter seagulls from pilfering food in coastal areas. The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Biology Letters, aimed to quantify the differential impact of speaking versus shouting on seagull behavior.

The experiment, carried out along the southwest coast of England, involved placing food in containers and exposing 61 European herring gulls to various auditory stimuli. These included a robin's song, a male voice speaking, and the same voice shouting. Notably, all sounds were played at identical volumes to isolate the effect of vocal characteristics rather than loudness.

Results indicated that while human vocalizations generally induced vigilance and reduced food-pecking behavior in seagulls, shouting proved particularly efficacious in prompting flight responses. This suggests that seagulls can discern between speaking and shouting based on acoustic properties beyond mere volume, a capability previously unobserved in wild species.

The study's findings have significant implications for human-wildlife interactions in urban coastal environments. By demonstrating that vocal deterrents can be effective without resorting to physical aggression, the research provides a humane approach to mitigating conflicts with seagulls, which are a species of conservation concern in the United Kingdom.

Furthermore, the researchers posit that future studies could explore potential variations in seagull responses to different human voices, including gender-based differences, thus expanding our understanding of avian cognitive capabilities and informing more nuanced strategies for wildlife management.