A significant colony of the rare and declining Audouin's Gull has been destroyed at a Spanish port.
On 4 May, operators responsible for the upkeep the port of Ceuta, an autonomous city on the North African mainland, ravaged the colony while many gulls were incubating eggs. Most of the colony's 75-80 pairs had laid in mid-April and, given most pairs lay 2-3 eggs, an estimated 150-240 eggs were lost.
Then, on 11 May, the same happened again – this time despite the port authority and Ministry for the Environment having been previously informed of the first incident. The remaining 28 Audouin's Gulls had six nests with eggs but were again 'cleared' and, by 13 May, just two active nests and six adult birds lingered.
Audouin's Gull colony destroyed at Spanish port - BirdGuides
On 4 May, operators responsible for the upkeep the port of Ceuta, an autonomous city on the North African mainland, ravaged the colony while many gulls were incubating eggs. Most of the colony's 75-80 pairs had laid in mid-April and, given most pairs lay 2-3 eggs, an estimated 150-240 eggs were lost.
Then, on 11 May, the same happened again – this time despite the port authority and Ministry for the Environment having been previously informed of the first incident. The remaining 28 Audouin's Gulls had six nests with eggs but were again 'cleared' and, by 13 May, just two active nests and six adult birds lingered.
Audouin's Gull colony destroyed at Spanish port - BirdGuides