Protected but innumerable to the point of becoming a nuisance! 12,000 pairs of leucorrhoea gulls, called "gabians" by the people of Marseille, nest on the territory of the Phocaean city, to the point that the prefecture of Bouches-du-Rhône has just extended a decree allowing the city to take measures to regulate the population of these birds protected by the Washington Convention of 1973 and a French decree of 2009.
Marseille is now the Mediterranean city that hosts the largest colony of these impressive screaming birds, with a wingspan of 1.50 metres, which abandon fishing to feed in garbage cans, a phenomenon that has been accentuated since the closure of public landfills in favour of an incinerator in 2010.
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The city therefore benefits from a derogation for captures, destruction of nests or sterilisation of eggs in order to avoid noise pollution, droppings and sometimes attacks by these "larus michahellis" which can become very aggressive to protect nests and nestlings.
"Garbage cans that are open-air feasts"
Within two years, 900 injured or sick gulls will be euthanized by veterinarians and egg sterilization operations will take place between March and June, the egg-laying period. A natural oil will be applied to some eggs to seal the pores and prevent the development of the embryo. Nets, cables and bird scarers may also be used to impede nesting.
"There is no overpopulation of gulls in Marseille, but their presence is a reflection of our waste management with garbage cans that are open-air feasts for them," says Anaël Marchas, legal advisor to the LPO Paca. The fact that the city of Marseille has issued a decree prohibiting feeding is a good thing. »