# Why do sea gulls hang out in parking lots? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 21, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sea-gulls-hang-out-in-parking-lots/336617 "2005-12-21T14:34:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sea-gulls-hang-out-in-parking-lots/336617/21 "2005-12-21T17:04:26Z")
> [@astro](#): > > (to Colibri) You mentioned Seagull “predators”. What actually preys on seagulls? Other than the occasional large hawk what’s really going to hassle them in nature? Peregrine Falcons are probably the major predator in the US, though large gulls are on the upper end of the size range of what they could take. Farther north, the larger Gyrfalcon could be a significant predator. Some of the other larger hawks, or even an eagle, might take one on the odd occasion. Coyotes or foxes would probably grab one if they had the chance, though again a large gull would be a bit of a handful for a fox. In urban areas, the larger gulls probably don’t really have many serious predators, but it doesn’t hurt to hang out in a safe place anyway just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sea-gulls-hang-out-in-parking-lots/336617/22 "2005-12-21T17:19:12Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > The nearest McDonald’s is at the other end of the parking lot that inspired this question. 😉 To every fry (tern, tern, tern) There is a seasoning (tern, tern, tern) And a time for every purpose, under the Golden Arches 😃 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sea-gulls-hang-out-in-parking-lots/336617/23 "2005-12-21T17:24:47Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > To every fry (tern, tern, tern) > There is a seasoning (tern, tern, tern) > And a time for every purpose, under the Golden Arches > > 😃 **triple swoon** And a **swoon** for **Telemark** too – accompanied by a heart-rending groan. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sea-gulls-hang-out-in-parking-lots/336617/24 "2005-12-21T17:41:59Z")
There once was a scientist who had a theory that a certain species of porpoise that lived off the coast of Africa never died of natural causes - they were essentially immortal unless they were killed. In order to test this theory, he photographed porpoise schools by attaching an automatic camera to gulls, sending the bird out over the ocean, and then retrieving it when it returned to the beach. One day he head just recaptured one of these camera-laden gulls on a narrow spit of land that jutted out into the ocean. When he turned around, to his horror he saw a lion reclining at the base of the spit and blocking his path. But upon looking more closely he saw that the lion seemed to be very placid, and was not making any threatening moves. Gathering his courage, he clutched the gull to his chest and ran down the spit, leaping over the lion in a single bound. He was immediately arrested. Why? He was arrested for crossing a sedate lion with a gull for immortal porpoises. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sea-gulls-hang-out-in-parking-lots/336617/25 "2005-12-21T18:01:01Z")
Oh good lord. All I can say is – **Colibri** – how _you_ doin’? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kelvinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@kelvinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelvinator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sea-gulls-hang-out-in-parking-lots/336617/26 "2005-12-21T18:15:30Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Near the ocean, okay – broad, flat expanse where they can scavenge burger buns, etc. – but we’re pretty far inland here in Philly, though near enough a moderate-sized river (the Schuylkill) that empties into a significant river (the Delaware) that empties into the ocean. Why do they go so far upstream, and then head for parking lots? Cause if they hung out in parking bays they’d be bay-gulls. Sorry, couldn’t resist. I was reading this while listening to the soundtrack of “Jonathon Livingston Seagull.” You know, something or-kestrel. Sorry again. I know I’ve been bad but you don’t have to give me the bird. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sea-gulls-hang-out-in-parking-lots/336617/27 "2005-12-21T18:31:13Z")
> [@kelvinator](#): > > Cause if they hung out in parking bays they’d be bay-gulls. > > Sorry, couldn’t resist. I was reading this while listening to the soundtrack of “Jonathon Livingston Seagull.” You know, something or-kestrel. > > Sorry again. I know I’ve been bad but you don’t have to give me the bird. Jeez…whatta loon. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sea-gulls-hang-out-in-parking-lots/336617/28 "2005-12-21T23:21:10Z")
> [@astro](#): > > (to Colibri) You mentioned Seagull “predators”. What actually preys on seagulls? Other than the occasional large hawk what’s really going to hassle them in nature? **Colibri** got to the big ones - I just thought I’d mention that I’ve also seen ravens attack sick and injured gulls. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sea-gulls-hang-out-in-parking-lots/336617.md?page=1)