Social learning of a foraging task in immature and adult urban Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus)

Social learning can shape behavioral responses to changing environmental conditions. The Kelp Gull ( Larus dominicanus ), a generalist species with high behavioral flexibility, frequently feeds on anthropogenic resources, and social learning may play a key role in the exploitation of these resources. In this study, social learning in urban Kelp Gulls from a landfill was evaluated. It was tested whether observing a demonstrator improved the acquisition of a novel feeding behavior, considering observer and demonstrator age. The performance of 25 naïve individuals (observers: 13 adults, 12 immatures) in solving an opaque box was analyzed and compared with that of six control individuals. Before observing a demonstrator, 28% of observers and 33% of controls solved the box. During the test phase, none of the control individuals were able to solve the task, whereas 52% of the observers solved the box after observing a demonstrator. Only adult observers were significantly more successful and faster at contacting and solving the box compared to controls and to their own performance before being exposed to the demonstration. No differences in performance were detected between ages, either before or after observing the demonstrator. The demonstrator’s age and neophobic response to the box did not affect observers’ success. Observers mainly used the demonstrator’s technique, with immatures showing greater consistency than adults in solving the same lid type demonstrated. The results showed that Kelp Gulls can learn an extractive feeding task by observing a conspecific. Social learning may enhance their ability to exploit food resources in urban areas, consistent with their diverse foraging tactics, cognitive abilities, and ecological success in human-modified environments.