Some gulls steal food right from the tables.
If a customer starts throwing them scraps, it can turn into a real feeding frenzy. Servers spend time shooing birds. And keeping the outdoor dining areas free of bird debris is an ongoing chore. The problem is that once a flock has settled into a spot, it's very difficult to permanently relocate them, adds Bruce Donoho, owner of a Mission Viejo, Calif.-based manufacturer. In addition to the outdoor dining areas, birds also make themselves at home around air-conditioning units.