Multiple outlets report that seagulls in seaside towns are acting abnormally after feeding on large numbers of flying ants, with witnesses describing the birds as “drunk” or staggering through streets and disrupting local traffic. One explanation cited by an ornithologist is that the birds may become temporarily disoriented because they are overwhelmed by the quantity of food they consume, rather than due to intoxication in the conventional sense. Another report attributes the behavior to scientists’ belief that gorging on flying ants can make seagulls appear “woozy” and affect their coordination for a short period.
The accounts agree that the unusual activity follows a period when flying ants are plentiful and that the effects are observed in public areas where the birds move unusually close to people and vehicles. While the exact biological mechanism is not stated in the reports, the suggested common factor is overeating during an insect feeding event. The reports frame the behavior as temporary and linked to the birds’ diet during the flying-ant surge.
