Fun facts about gulls

People think gulls are just feathered pickpockets, screaming down the harbour for pasties. True enough — but there’s more to them than chip-thieving chaos. Here’s a few facts worth squarking about:

• They drink seawater. No, really. Gulls have special glands above the eyes that filter the salt. Humans need a pint of Doom Bar to wash their pasty down — gulls just lean straight into the Atlantic.

• They’re loyal partners. Most gulls pair up for life. Which is more than can be said for some deckchair romances.

• They can mob a hawk. One hawk looks tough. Twenty gulls look tougher. The skies are democracy at its noisiest.

• They teach their chicks. That high-pitched mew you hear isn’t just begging — it’s lessons. Chicks copy their parents, learning the best raid spots and how to give that perfect “feed me” stare.

• They’re cleverer than you think. Gulls drop mussels from height to crack them open, use bread as bait for fish, and recognise human faces. If you've been mugged before you're likely on their suckers list.

Next time a gull swoops, don’t just guard your chips. Give them a nod of respect. They’ve survived cliffs, storms, and centuries — your Mr Whippy is the easy bit.