Monday, August 3, 2026
Science

Fake predator eyes scare off seabirds until they learn they're not real

In Danish fisheries, fish-eating seabirds are a menace. They often swoop down and feed on fish trapped in nets, which can hit profits and also sometimes lead to the accidental death of the birds. So scientists deployed an unusual-looking, non-lethal method to deter them. It worked, but not for long,...

Fake predator eyes scare off seabirds until they learn they're not real
Image: Phys.org
In Danish fisheries, fish-eating seabirds are a menace. They often swoop down and feed on fish trapped in nets, which can hit profits and also sometimes lead to the accidental death of the birds. So scientists deployed an unusual-looking, non-lethal method to deter them. It worked, but not for long, as they discuss in a paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

Originally published at Phys.org

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