Seagulls — properly just gulls — are among the boldest, most adaptable birds around, and their willingness to eat almost anything is exactly why they thrive along coasts and in towns.
What seagulls eat naturally
Gulls are opportunistic omnivores. Their natural diet includes fish, crabs, shellfish, worms, insects and other small creatures, along with eggs and the chicks of other birds. They forage along the shoreline, follow fishing boats, and are clever enough to drop shellfish onto rocks to crack them open.
Gulls and human food
Around people, gulls have become expert scavengers of chips, bread and any dropped or unguarded food — sometimes snatching it straight from hands. This junk food is not good for them, and feeding gulls tends to make them bolder and more aggressive around people, which is why it is discouraged in many seaside towns.
Should you feed seagulls?
It is best not to feed seagulls, especially processed human food. It harms their health, encourages large aggressive flocks, and can create real problems in busy public places. Enjoy watching them forage naturally instead, and keep your own food covered at the beach.