Seasonal patterns of abundance of Kelp Gulls <i>Larus dominicanus</i> at breeding and non-breeding localities in southern Africa

Abstract

Crawford, R.J.M., Nel, D.C, Williams, A.J. & Scott, A. 1997. Seasonal patterns of abundance of Kelp Gulls Larus dominicanus at breeding and non-breeding localities in southern Africa. Ostrich 68 (1): 37–41. At Malgas Island, Western Cape Province, South Africa, active nest sites of Kelp Gulls were recorded from August to February, but mainly between October and December with a peak in November. In August and September all active sites were recently-made scrapes without eggs or chicks. Eggs were found from early October until January and chicks from late October to early February. At Dassen Island, Western Cape Province, numbers of adult Kelp Gulls are highest during the main October-December breeding season. After breeding, adults disperse from the island, with only 4% remaining by May. First-year birds were observed at Dassen Island from February to July, with mean numbers decreasing after April. At De Hoop, Western Cape Province, numbers of Kelp Gulls were also highest during the breeding season, but the decrease in the non-breeding season was less marked. Near Walvis Bay, central Namibia, at a non-breeding site, numbers of Kelp Gulls were highest outside the breeding season, indicating dispersal of birds away from colonies after completion of breeding.