The seagulls are at home in the city, it is where they nest, raise young and look for food. So having your sausage twisted right out of your hand by a hungry seagull is hard to come by.
But the angry behavior that seagulls can display is seasonal. In May, the seagulls started nesting and now the eggs are starting to hatch. This means that baby seagulls start wandering around in parks, streets and squares – something that worries both mother and father seagulls.
This is how you can protect yourself
By holding up an object, such as an umbrella or a walking stick, you prevent the seagulls from reaching your head.
– They always attack the highest, they think it is part of you, says Christer Olsson, ornithologist from Umeå.
Therefore, the seagulls in the center are increasing
As there have been more and more predators in Umeå’s archipelago, such as foxes and mink, the birds have started to seek the city. The only predator they may encounter there are domestic cats.
– The seagulls adapt to city life, keep an eye on where cars are coming from, eat fries and sausages, they probably like living in the city, says Christer Olsson.