Study Overview
A recent study by researchers from the University of Exeter has uncovered an interesting behavior in herring gull chicks: despite being raised in urban settings, they display a strong inclination toward seafood.
The research team focused on chicks that were rescued from rooftop falls in Cornwall, UK.
In a controlled environment prior to their release, these chicks experienced two different feeding regimes.
One group feasted mostly on marine foods like fish and mussels, while the other group’s diet was mainly composed of urban foods, including bread and cat food.
To gauge their preferences, the researchers presented them with four types of food in separate bowls and periodically recorded their selections.
The findings were clear: the chicks showed a clear preference for fish.
Research Insights
Lead researcher Emma Inzani speculated that even with their exposure to urban diets, these herring gull chicks are unlikely to develop a taste for human food as adults.
She noted that although urban environments offer an abundance of easily accessible waste, when given the option, gulls tend to gravitate toward seafood.
Herring gulls often receive a negative reputation in cities for scavenging discarded food and occasionally snatching it from people.
Despite this reputation, they are classified as one of the UK’s species in dire need of conservation attention, primarily due to their declining population.
Inzani explained that the combination of dwindling fish stocks in local waters and the availability of urban waste could lead gulls to forgo the energy-intensive quest for food at sea.
Previous studies suggest that after their chicks hatch, parent gulls switch their foraging tactics to prioritize marine food, likely because it provides essential nutrients crucial for the chicks’ growth.
Chick Feeding Preferences
In this particular study involving 27 chicks, half were predominantly fed urban food with occasional seafood, while the other half had the opposite arrangement.
Researchers observed the chicks at specific intervals—days 5, 10, 15, and 35.
Each time, when presented with all four food options, the gulls consistently chose fish, consuming very little of the bread.
This strong preference for fish in gull chicks may mirror the behavior of adult gulls, who prioritize marine food sources for their young. Dr. Neeltje Boogert, a senior author on the study, pointed out that while some animals learn to thrive in urban environments by utilizing human food waste, this behavior doesn’t necessarily mean they prefer such options.
Instead, it may simply be a strategy to survive in difficult circumstances.
She emphasized the need for further research to delve deeper into how the diets of young animals could shape their future food preferences, health, and reproductive success.
Source: Science Daily