Mediterranean Gull
Larus melanocephalus Temminck, 1820
Larus melanocephalus Natt.: Klain, 1909: 177, Chema melanocephalum Natt.: Reiser, 1894: 198; Hydrocoloeus melanocephalus (Temm.): Boetticher, 1927: 197.
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Vulnerable VU B[1a + b(ii + iii) + c(iv) + 2(a + c(ii + iii+ iv)]+ C[2b], BDA-II, III; International: BeC-II, BoC-II, BD-I.
General distribution. A Western Palearctic species. The basic breeding population is concentrated along the Black Sea coast of the Ukraine. Breeding habitats are registered in almost all European countries.
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. A breeding summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor. At the end of the 19th century it was numerous and permanently breeding along the Black Sea coast and within the country [1, 2, 3]. In the middle of the 20th century, it bred in Burgas Lake and Atanasovsko Ezero lake [4, 5, 6, 7], and probably in Pomoriysko Ezero lake [8]. In 1988, 50 nests were found in Atanasovsko Ezero lake [9]. During the multiplication period it has been registered in other parts of the Black Sea coast as well, and also near the town of Svishtov, the city of Sofia, the village of Zagortsi, Burgas region [10]. In the 1990s, its numbers in Atanasovsko Ezero lake were up to 62 pairs [11, 12]. Since 1997, there have been no data of breeding in Bulgaria. Two unsuccessful attempts at breeding were reported for Pomoriysko Ezero lake [12]. Larger concentrations during the autumn migration have been observed near cape Kaliakra [13] and the Burgas lakes [12, 14]. The population wintering in Bulgaria is small, concentrated mainly along the Black Sea coast [15].
Habitats. Salty, brackish and alkaline lakes, lagoons, sea shallows and the open sea, sand bars, islands and dunes, canals, salty terrains, arable lands and pastures, fish farms, saltworks, freshwater lakes, marshes, bogs, water basins for waste waters.
Biology. It breeds colonially. It feeds on crustaceans, small fish, insects and voles.
Similar species. The Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus).
Negative factors. Changes in the mode of management of agricultural areas; repairs of the dikes in the lakes Atanasovsko and Pomoriysko; destruction of incubated eggs and nests with small birds by ground predators; pollution of the soils and the waters.
Conservation measures taken. Protected according to the Biological Diversity Act. Included in the Red Data Book of Bulgaria (1985). A Management Plan for Atanasovsko Ezero lake has been worked out; artificial islands have been built in the lakes Atanasovsko and Pomoriysko; monitoring is carried out.
Conservation measures needed. Management Plans for the lakes Pomoriysko Ezero and Shablenska Tuzla are to be prepared. The building of artificial islands in the lakes Atanasovsko and Pomoriysko must continue. Control on the presence of wandering dogs and predators in the places for breeding must be increased.
References. 1. Alleon, 1886; 2. Reiser, 1894; 3. Boetticher, 1927; 4. Prostov, 1964; 5. Uhlig, 1988; 6. Kantardzhiev, Bedev, 1984; 7. Simeonov, 1986; 8. Patev, 1950; 9. Nyagolov, 1988; 10. Nankinov, 1985; 11. Enev, 1996; 12. Dimitrov et al., 2005; 13. Robel, Konigstedt, 1980; 14. Malling Olsen, Larsson, 2003; 15. Michev & Profirov, 2003.
Author: Milko Dimitrov
