Seagulls are well known for stealing food from unsuspecting beachgoers. However, a new study published in the journal Ecology and Evolution has shown that if a pair of eyes is drawn on a takeout food box, it can deter the birds and reduce thefts by up to 50%.
Specialists from the University of Exeter offered silver gulls in coastal towns of Devon and Cornwall attractive treats in the form of takeout food. When faced with a choice between a box with drawn eyes and a regular box, the gulls approached the former noticeably slower and were less likely to attempt to peck at the food.
During the study, the researchers found that this effect persists: gulls continue to avoid boxes with images of eyes even after multiple interactions with them.
It is noted that images of eyes have previously been used as a deterrent in other situations — for example, to protect crops from starlings or to prevent the presence of predatory birds near airports. However, not all gulls respond the same way: bolder individuals may ignore such a signal, and in their case, a loud scream can serve as an additional deterrent factor.
