GPS beacons to track seagulls
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The project
AnimalsEducation
Study the feeding strategies and habitat selection of Mediterranean gulls
Action regions
France
Centre-Val de Loire
Europe
5 000
couplesin Loiret (Loire Islands)
60
birdsequipped with a GPS beacon
Solution
The Mediterranean Gull has undergone a recent and spectacular numerical and geographical expansion in Western Europe. In France, it was mainly found in the Rhône delta and on the Atlantic seaboard... until pairs nested on the shores of Beaugency, in the Loiret département. This site is now home to the largest continental colony of Mediterranean gulls in France. It is important to gain a better understanding of its biology, behavior and feeding strategies in order to understand the dynamics of its expansion.
The ultimate aim is to guide management decisions for its habitat in the Loire basin, in order to propose suitable agricultural solutions to managers.
Beauval Nature Prize 2025: Innovation and technology in the service of conservation
This study, launched in 2022, is unique in Europe in terms of the scale of the colony monitored and the logistics deployed: GPS tracking of 60 Mediterranean gulls breeding on the islands of Beaugency, Sandillon and Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire.
By equipping the seagulls with a solar-powered GPS beacon (an innovative miniaturized system), this technology opens up access to hitherto unknown knowledge about this species newly established in Europe.
News
Use of the money
- Placing GPS tags on Mediterranean gulls
- Taking biometric measurements
- Closely monitoring gull movements
.
Action regions
France
Centre-Val de Loire
Europe
This association has been meticulously selected and checked by our partner
Beauval Nature
Every year, the Mediterranean Gull amazes the hundreds of ornithologists who follow its movements in Europe. Attempting to understand its individual decisions in choosing its habitats will enable us to preserve multiple species with the right management tools.
Sustainable development goals
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