Status, distribution and conservation implications of the Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus vetula) within the Eastern Cape region of South Africa

Abstract Numbers of Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus vetula) were counted at breeding and resting sites along a section of coastline ~354 km long, between Plettenberg Bay (34°05'S, 23°22'E), Western Cape Province, and the mouth of the Great Fish River (33°29'S, 27°08'E), Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, between February 2003 and June 2004. This area held ~10% of the southern African population. The breeding population of this region was estimated to have increased by 71% since 1982. Four breeding sites had shown an increase in numbers, five a decrease, one showed little change, three had been abandoned and five had not previously been recorded. Numbers breeding at mainland sites showed a marked increase but colonies on offshore islands had decreased. The proportion of adult birds in the population ranged from 79% to 86%, with a mean of 83%. Juvenile birds were most frequently recorded during autumn and winter but many appeared to have left the region by the following spring. Problems experienced with increasing populations of gulls in the northern hemisphere do not yet appear to be associated with the increase in numbers of Kelp Gulls in southern Africa. Sensible management of human-generated waste and refuse, limiting the amount that is available to Gulls, would be a major step in preventing the Kelp Gull from attaining pest status in southern Africa.

[1]  A. Williams.  Waterbird Population Estimates , 2007 .

[2]  J. Pons.  EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN THE AVAILABILITY OF HUMAN REFUSE ON BREEDING PARAMETERS IN A HERRING GULL Larus argentatus POPULATION IN BRITTANY, FRANCE , 2007 .

[3]  Raphael M Barishansky,et al.  Birds of a feather flock together , 1998, Nature.

[4]  M. D. Toit.  Predatory interactions between Cape fur seals and seabirds at Ichaboe Island, Namiba , 2005 .

[5]  L. Underhill,et al.  Indexing the health of the environment for breeding seabirds in the Benguela ecosystem , 2005 .

[6]  P. Yorio,et al.  Effects of microhabitat preferences on kelp gull Larus dominicanus breeding performance , 2004 .

[7]  P. Yorio,et al.  Temporal patterns of abundance and waste use by Kelp Gulls at a urban and fishery waste tip in northern coastal Patagonia, Argentina , 2004 .

[8]  J. Cooper,et al.  First Breeding Records of Kelp Gulls Larus Dominicanus Vetula at Robben Island, Western Cape, South Africa , 2003 .

[9]  C. Schneider.  Border patrol. , 2003, The Hastings Center report.

[10]  S. Delany,et al.  Waterbird population estimates , 2002 .

[11]  W. Dean,et al.  New Records and Amendments To the Birds of Angola , 2002 .

[12]  P. Yorio,et al.  USE OF TIPS BY NESTING KELP GULLS AT A GROWING COLONY IN PATAGONIA , 2001 .

[13]  J. Veen,et al.  Breeding gulls and sterns in Senegal in 1998, and proposal for new population estimates for gulls and terns in north-west Africa , 2001 .

[14]  R. Crawford,et al.  Age at first breeding and change in plumage of kelp gulls Larus dominicanus in South Africa , 2000 .

[15]  P. Yorio,et al.  Seabird Interactions with Coastal Fisheries in Northern Patagonia: Use of Discards and Incidental Captures in Nets , 1999 .

[16]  P. Yorio,et al.  KELP GULLS LARUS DOMINICANUS BREEDING ON THE ARGENTINE COAST: POPULATION STATUS AND RELATIONSHIP WITH COASTAL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION , 1998 .

[17]  D. Medin,et al.  Birds of a Feather Flock Together: Similarity Judgments with Semantically Rich Stimuli , 1997 .

[18]  J. Coulson,et al.  The distribution and abundance of Larus gulls nesting on buildings in Britain and Ireland , 1997 .

[19]  J. Hatch.  Threats to public health from gulls (Laridae) , 1996 .

[20]  W. Steele.  DIET OF HARTLAUB'S GULL LARUS HARTLAUBU AND THE KELP GULL L. DOMINICANUS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA , 1992 .

[21]  P. Hockey,et al.  POPULATION SIZE, DISTRIBUTION AND DISPERSAL OF KELP GULLS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA , 1990 .

[22]  F. Cuthbert,et al.  Status and Breeding Success of Common Terns in Minnesota , 1989 .

[23]  F. Cuthbert,et al.  Status and reproductive success of Common Terns in Minnesota , 1989 .

[24]  B. Thompson,et al.  Colonial Waterbird Management in North America , 1988 .

[25]  A. P. Randall,et al.  Numbers of waterbirds at a commercial saltpan, and suggestions for management , 1987 .

[26]  H. Blokpoel,et al.  The ring-billed gull in Ontario : a review of a new problem species , 1986 .

[27]  J. Coulson,et al.  The herring gull Larus argentatus as a likely transmitting agent of Salmonella montevideo to sheep and cattle , 1983, Journal of Hygiene.

[28]  M. Conover.  Recent changes in ring-billed and California gull populations in the Western United States , 1983 .

[29]  P. Monaghan,et al.  The contamination of a major water supply by gulls (Larus sp.): A study of the problem and remedial action taken , 1983 .

[30]  J. Cooper,et al.  DISTRIBUTION, POPULATION SIZE, BREEDING AND CONSERVATION OF THE KELP GULL IN SOUTHERN AFRICA , 1982 .

[31]  G. Hopkins,et al.  The possible involvement of seagulls (Larus sp) in the transmission of salmonella in dairy cattle , 1979, Veterinary Record.

[32]  P. J. Smith,et al.  Pollution of a water supply catchment by breeding gulls and the potential environmental health implications. , 1978 .

[33]  P. Monaghan,et al.  Status of Large Gulls Nesting on Buildings , 1977 .

[34]  T. Griffiths,et al.  The transmission of S livingstone to cattle by the herring gull (Larus argentatus) , 1977, Veterinary Record.

[35]  G. Chabrzyk,et al.  Survival and Recruitment in the Herring Gull Larus argentatus , 1976 .

[36]  G. Thomas.  A review of gull damage and management methods at nature reserves , 1972 .

[37]  A. L. Spaans,et al.  On the Feeding Ecology of the Herring Gull Larus argentatus Pont. in the Northern Part of the Netherlands , 2015 .

[38]  R. M. Cormack,et al.  Mortality and Population Change of Dominican Gulls in Wellington, New Zealand: With a Statistical Appendix , 1970 .

[39]  J. E. Kerrich.  Statistics in South Africa , 1968 .

[40]  R. Fordham.  DISPERSION AND DISPERSAL OF THE DOMINICAN GULL IN WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND , 1968 .

[41]  I. Watson,et al.  The Silver Gull, Larus novaehollandiae Stephens. , 1963 .

[42]  S. Gordon.  Oceanic Birds of South America , 1949, Nature.

[43]  Mary Kidder Rak.  Border patrol , 1938 .