Effects of alarm call playback on the behaviour of wild European herring gulls

摘要: Abstract Playback of audio recordings is a well-established method eliciting behavioural responses in the wild. The effects playback on behaviour wild European herring gulls (Larus argentatus) has not been well researched however. present study was conducted order to address this using gull alarm calls, food begging woodland dawn chorus or silence free-living birds that had attracted site by scattering highly palatable mixture. Each call type played 8–9 times randomised across 40 day period with only one being per day. initiated 30 s after two more landed within baited area and continued for 2 min thereafter. number ground recorded at 10 s intervals during before playing calls through afterwards. Results were clear showed whilst groups typically arrived close temporal proximity each other quickly began consuming food, they took flight seconds hearing their own species’ even though there still left be eaten. produced similar effect reasons are fully understood. largely without as ‘silent’ condition numbers appeared decrease relation reducing amount These data together demonstrate respond upon sounds can produce also.