Abstract

Samia Ouarab , Jean-Francois Voisin , Michel Thevenot and Salahedine Doumandji

The Yellow - legged Gull Larus michaellis is a common visitor to the Marsh of Reghaia (Algeria) and breeds off the coast in small numbers on the Agueli islet, a rocky outcrop with scarce vegetation. It is especially frequent in the marsh out of the breeding season, particularly in December (120 individuals) and January (234 individuals) (data from 2004). Gulls breed on the islet: 31 nests were recorded in 2004 but only 14 in 2006, when no chick fledged due to human disturbance. In 2004, 39% of the nests were built by the centre of the islet and only few were located on the western slope exposed to winds blowing from the North, North-west and West. Clutch size varied from 1 to 3 eggs (2 ± 0.93).