{"id":2185,"date":"2025-07-27T19:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T00:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/talent24h.okdiario.com\/united-states\/?p=2185"},"modified":"2025-07-23T00:25:59","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T05:25:59","slug":"a-seagull-may-have-learned-to-ride-trucks-to-easily-access-food-a-gps-tracks-its-route-and-demonstrates-its-intelligence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/talent24h.okdiario.com\/united-states\/a-seagull-may-have-learned-to-ride-trucks-to-easily-access-food-a-gps-tracks-its-route-and-demonstrates-its-intelligence\/","title":{"rendered":"A seagull may have learned to ride trucks to easily access food: a GPS tracks its route and demonstrates its intelligence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A GPS\u2011tracked western gull twice logged 80\u2011mile rides on a garbage truck in May\u202f2018, rocketing down Bay Area freeways at 60\u202fmph\u2014three times its normal flying speed. The newly published study raises fresh questions about how wildlife adapts to people\u2019s waste streams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The odd journeys, reported in\u202fWaterbirds, matter to anyone curious about seabirds, urban ecology, or the surprising reach of our trash. Who knew a compost run could turn into an avian road trip?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When San\u202fJose State University biologist Scott\u202fShaffer reviewed the tracker on the Farallon\u2011born female, he spotted break\u2011neck ground speeds. A closer look showed the bird had hopped onto Recology\u2019s 18\u2011wheeler, cruising from San\u202fFrancisco to a Modesto compost facility\u2014then doing it again two days later. Why trade wings for wheels?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GPS tracking reveals astonishing 60\u2011mph ride along Bay Area highways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Co\u2011author Megan\u202fCimino calls the data \u201csurprising and comical,\u201d yet the numbers are solid. Compared with routine foraging flights, the truck treks were 59\u202fto\u202f81\u202fmiles longer and burned 14\u202fto\u202f18 extra hours. That\u2019s a lot of hitchhiking for a gull, right? Below is a snapshot of the two journeys:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Date (2018)<\/th>Route highlights<\/th>Distance<\/th>Max recorded speed<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
May\u202f21<\/td>Bay Bridge \u2192 I\u2011880 \u2192 Hwy\u202f580<\/td>~80\u202fmi<\/td>60\u202fmph<\/td><\/tr>
May\u202f23<\/td>San\u202fMateo\u2013Hayward Bridge \u2192 Central\u202fValley roads<\/td>~80\u202fmi<\/td>60\u202fmph<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Researchers stress these figures came straight from the lightweight GPS unit recovered a week later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers piece together why the adventurous western gull repeated the journey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, how did the first hop happen? The team suspects the bird slipped under the tarp covering food\u2011rich refuse, then simply stayed put as the driver hit the interstate. The second hop is murkier. Did the gull remember the easy calories and aim for a repeat ride?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key takeaways for readers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n