Herring gull chicks would rather have fish than your chips, finds study

The University of Exeter scientists studied herring gull chicks that had been rescued after falling off roofs. Photograph: Emma Inzani

Herring gulls have wrecked many a seaside picnic, pouncing on unsuspecting people trying to enjoy a Cornish pasty, a sandwich or a bag of chips.

But a study from the University of Exeter suggests gull chicks prefer seafood even after being raised on a diet of the sort of scraps found around humans.