The eyes have it: the response of European Herring Gulls Larus argentatus to human eye-gaze

2023/07/03 by Lewis M. Lamond, David N. Fisher · 1 voice · 2 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Psychology · Environmental Science · #Animal Behavior and Reproduction #Primate Behavior and Ecology #Amphibian and Reptile Biology

paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/00063657.2023.2242048

Abstract

Using a novel method for testing the effect of gaze direction on flight initiation distances of European Herring Gulls Larus argentatus, we found that distances were significantly shorter for an averted gaze treatment than for a direct gaze. There was no difference between adult and immature gulls in their response, suggesting that from an early age Herring Gulls consider the orientation of a human’s eye in their anti-predator responses.

Cited by

• Fear responses in a nationally threatened seabird: habitat and landscape contexts influence flight initiation distance in red-billed gulls
• Evaluating Aversion to Eye-Like Stimuli as a Foraging Deterrent in Urban European Herring Gulls. [europepmc]

Discussions

• #OpenAccess in #BirdStudy Herring Gulls really don't like people staring at them (antipredator response). The eyes have it: the response of European Herring Gulls Larus argentatus to human eye-gaze [bsky, 15 points, 1 comments]

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