Monitoring of colonial waders and gulls

The populations of colonial waders and gulls that breed in coastal wetlands on the French Mediterranean coast include eight species: Little Tern (Sternula albifrons), Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis), Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei) and Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta).

The estimated annual numbers of breeding pairs for all colonies of the eight colonial species is based on the implementation of a common monitoring protocol based on weekly visits to all sites. The estimated number of chicks fledged divided by the number of breeding pairs on a large sample of colonies provides the reproductive success of populations of colonial gulls and waders on the French Mediterranean coast.

For more details, download the full protocol monitoring

In order to ensure the sustainable protection of these species, a LIFE project was carried out between 2011 and 2018 on the French Mediterranean coast: LIFE+ ENVOLL. This project, which has met with great success by the European Community and its partners, was led by the Marais du Viguairat.

© Yves Kayser - Aerial count air of a colony