Researchers Study Why Gulls Are So Good at Fishing

With their sharp eyes and innate fishing skills, gulls are some of the best anglers around. But what makes these coastal birds so good at catching fish?

To find out, a team of researchers from the University of Oxford conducted a study on how gulls catch fish. The study, which was published in the journal Science, found that gulls use a combination of tactics to capture prey.

For starters, gulls have a acute vision that allows them to see fish swimming near the surface of the water. They also have a well-developed sense of balance that helps them stay upright while fishing.

In addition, gulls use their beaks to probe the water for fish. They also use their wings to create a surface disturbance that scares fish into hiding. And finally, they use their feet to grab hold of fish once they've been caught.

WATCH: Gull Steals Fish from Tourist's Hand in Barcelona

A tourist in Barcelona captured amazing video of a gull stealing a fish right out of his hand. The bird snatched the fish from the man's hand as he was fishing for it at a port on Monday.

Wildlife photographer Cesar Peschiera happened to be in the area when he saw the scene unfold. He started filming and caught the moment the gull made its daring grab for the fish.

Peschiera said this wasn't the first time he's seen seagulls snatch food from people's hands. "It has happened to me before, but never so close," he said.

Gulls are opportunistic feeders and will take advantage of any food source they can find. They often scavenge around ports and piers where there is lots of discarded or spilled food. They're also known to steal food from people who are feeding them.

In this case, it seems like the gull was able to get lucky and snag a fish right out of the man's hand. Luckily, he wasn't injured in the theft!

Gulls Could Start Disappearing As Climate Changes

The California gull, which is common to the state's coast, is among the species of bird that could potentially disappear as a result of climate change.

A study by UC Santa Barbara researchers published in the journal PLOS ONE indicates that rising ocean temperatures could lead to a decrease in krill, the gull's main food source. Warmer water bodies will also cause the gulls to move northward in search of cooler climes, likely leading to a decline in their population.

The study analyzed 30 years of data on krill populations and climate conditions across the California coast. It found that with each degree Celsius rise in ocean temperature, there was a 10 percent decline in krill biomass.

The research provides valuable insights into how climate change will impact coastal ecosystems and the species that depend on them. "This is one of the first studies to look at how California gulls may respond to climate change by examining how ocean temperatures are affecting their main prey species — krill," said lead author Amber Jackson, an integrative biologist at UCSB's Marine Science Institute (MSI).

According to Jackson, the findings underscore the importance of considering both climate and prey when predicting how future environmental changes will affect coastal species. "When you warm up the planet, all these things are interconnected," she said. "You see cascading effects that can alter entire ecosystems."

The California gull is currently listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, if its population does start to decline due to climate change, it could be reclassified as vulnerable or endangered.

How to Tell a Common Gull From a Herring Gull

The easiest way to distinguish a common gull from a herring gull is by size. A common gull is significantly smaller than a herring gull.

Another distinguishing feature between the two types of gulls is that common gulls have black heads while herring gulls have white heads.

In terms of silhouette, common gulls are broader in the body and have shorter wings than herring gulls.

Finally, the most reliable way to tell these two types of gulls apart is by their calls. Common gulls typically give a higher-pitched screeching call, while herring gulls make a lower guttural noise.

Citizen Science Project Aims to Count Seattle's Gulls

A new citizen science project is underway in Seattle to help researchers better understand the city's gull populations. The project, called "Gulls of Seattle," asks volunteers to count the number of gulls they see in select locations around the city and report their findings online.

The project is being spearheaded by the Seattle Audubon Society, with support from Seattle City Light and other local organizations. It is hoped that the data collected by volunteers will help researchers track changes in Seattle's gull populations over time and identify any areas where they may be growing or declining.

Gulls are a common sight in Seattle, where they can be found scavenging for food at dumpsters and landfill sites, as well as perched on rooftops and other structures. They are known to be aggressive birds, and have been known to steal food from humans and pets.

Despite their abundance, there is still much we don't know about Seattle's gulls. For example, it's not clear how many different species of gull live in the city or how their numbers are changing over time. This new citizen science project will help us answer these questions and others about Seattle's gulls.

So far, Gulls of Seattle has registered over 100 volunteers. If you're interested in participating, visit the project website to learn more about how you can get involved.