Seagull populations in the Southwestern Delta and Flanders

Gulls are essential to the coastal ecosystem. As top predators, they keep other populations in balance, and their presence tells us a lot about the health of coastal nature. But their numbers are dropping sharply: the herring gull has shown a decline of more than 5% per year since the 1980s, and the lesser black-backed gull is also endangered. Without intervention, important colonies will disappear. This project focuses on restoring these two gull populations in the Southwestern Delta and Flanders.

Southwestern Delta

The Southwestern Delta is an area that includes Zeeland, the South Holland islands and part of North Brabant. This is a habitat for large gulls. But here’s the problem: harbors, industry and recreation are all competing with their breeding sites. In some areas, gulls are actively deterred in order to offer space for endangered coastal birds to breed.  This indicates that there’s simply not enough suitable breeding habitat for gulls and other species.

Research and restoration measures

This project aims to secure breeding areas for gull populations and also to develop new breeding locations. Our work includes:

• The restoration of existing breeding grounds, such as the Spuitkop in the Markiezaat

• The placement of nest hubs on roofs in the harbor at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the Port of Rotterdam and the North Sea Port

• Divergence of recreants on Neeltje Jans and restoration of the breeding grounds through vegetation removal

• Monitoring of breeding success and research into food and habitat

Through these measures, we will learn, step by step, what works. The insights will be shared with all stakeholders, so that they can also be applied in other areas, such as the Wadden Sea.

Partners

Netherlands Bird Protection (De Vogelbescherming) is carrying out this project together with the Society for Preservation of Nature Monuments in the Netherlands (Natuurmonumenten), Bird Protection Flanders and Brabant Landscape (Brabants Landschap), with financing from Nature Regeneration North Sea.