Rotterdam is Europe’s largest seaport, with imposing offshore installations, staggering amounts of containers, vast petrochemical industries and plenty of activity. Plants and animals also know how to make good use of the open, sparse areas of sandy ground near the coast. Ground-breeding birds such as terns, plovers, oystercatchers and especially gulls reach high numbers there.
For lesser black-backed gull and herring gull, the colonies in the harbor area are among the largest in the Netherlands. But the gulls also cause nuisance and sometimes dangerous situations. Therefore, in the past, exemptions have been granted to disturb gulls, treat eggs and keep certain areas free of breeding gulls.
To prepare a new management plan, we examined the trend of both species of gulls in the harbor area, how it compares to national and international trends, and what effect management would have on this trend. This information was then used in the gull fauna management plan 2022-2027.
Status
Finished
Partners
Vogeltrekstation, Radboud Universiteit
Contact
Henk van der Jeugd