How to stop seagulls stealing your chips, according to science

A very important study. - by Laura Barry

No trip to the beach is complete without hitting up the local fish and chip shop for a tray full of piping hot salty fries for lunch. However, eating those delicious golden sticks in peace can be almost impossible. From the moment you tear that paper packaging open, stealing your lunch will become the key objective for every seagull within a 5-kilometre radius. Short of hunching over your meal like an ex-con, there’s not much you can do but shoo away the brazen gulls that come a little too close for comfort, and attempt to eat your hot chips as fast as possible without burning your tongue.

However, a very useful study undertaken by the research folk at Exeter University in the UK has discovered that there is one, scientifically-proven method of preventing a seagull from stealing your lunch.

The study was published in The Royal Society journal and explained that by staring down a brazen gull with a glacial glare, the birds would back off and leave you to eat your chippies in peace.

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The study was undertaken on Herring gulls, a type of bird in Britain famous for pinching peoples food. The researched out 250g of fried potatoe chips in a sealed, transparent bag, and a human research participant crouched in front of the bag of chips. When approached by a gull with nefarious intentions the researcher would stare directly at the bird and record its reactions.

The study found that the human gaze significantly affected the gulls decision to approach the chips. That is, the herring gulls would take a longer time to approach a human when being stared down, than they did when the human was looking away. It appears the birds find the human gaze aversive.

So, next time you’re struggling to protect you hot packet of golden treasure at the beach, stare those critters down.

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Laura Barry

Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.