What is a seagull thinking?
Took the chips straight out of your hand. Waits to see what else you have.
There is a tested defence, and it is embarrassingly simple: look at it. Researchers at Exeter timed how long herring gulls took to approach a bag of chips and found they were markedly slower, and often gave up entirely, when a human was staring directly at them.
They also watch what you eat. Gulls prefer food they have seen a person handle, which is why the one on the railing is not choosing at random - it has been watching you since you sat down.
Try it on a real one
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