We are a team of scientists based at the University of Exeter’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation in Cornwall, investigating how urban life affects herring gull behaviour, diet, health, and survival. Our areas of interest span animal behaviour, cognition, conservation biology, sensory ecology, physiology and reproduction.

Herring gulls are a common sight (and sound) in the towns and along the coastline of the UK. On the face of it, they appear to be thriving in Cornwall and elsewhere. However, the species has actually undergone major population declines in the UK since the 1970s. The causes of these declines are not fully understood but are likely to include habitat degradation, botulism poisoning from poor waste management, and culling. Herring gulls are now considered to be of the highest priority for conservation in the UK by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. They are also protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Herring gulls are often perceived as a nuisance or a pest species. There are good reasons why people sometimes find herring gulls annoying: they ‘steal’ food, feed on refuse, defecate on property and accumulate nesting debris on roofs, and they call loudly day and night. When breeding they can become aggressive while defending their chicks, sometimes intimidating homeowners. This leads to regular conflict between people and gulls, which complicates conservation measures for the species.

However, there are simple ways in which you can avoid having your beach picnic ruined by an opportunistic seagull:

• Ensure you don’t leave your food out in the open if you’re not consuming it – gulls know that shopping bags contain food, so best to use bags with zips or cover the food up with a towel or picnic blanket to make it less readily accessible.
• If you buy an ice-cream or pasty, it is quite likely that there are gulls sitting on the vendor’s roof and watching you, waiting for the chance to grab the food while you’re not paying attention to them. Keep your eye on such gulls and they’re less likely to take the risk (much like shoplifters watched by shopkeepers will avoid putting things into their pockets! 😉
• If you’re trying to deter gulls from patios or playgrounds, consider putting up bunting close together across the space – gulls will be less likely to take food when there are no easy access & escape routes.
• Similarly, eating underneath roofs, umbrellas or parasols discourages gulls from flying in to snatch food!