Breeding and a Phenological Shift in the White-Eyed Gull Larus Leucophthalmus in the Red Sea Islands of Egypt

Abstract

The northern region of the Red Sea in Egypt contains a variety of bird species that are rare or exclusive to the Western Palearctic, therefore making it a key ornithological habitat. This study revealed survey data for the northern Red Sea Islands in 2023, all the way to Rocky Island, which is southeast of the Egyptian border, compared to the survey in 1998. The objective was to assess the status of breeding seabirds in the Egyptian Red Sea, identify obstacles, and formulate plans for conservation management. The observed species include the Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Sooty Gull (Larus hemprichii), White-eyed Gull (L. leucophthalmus), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa), Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis), Greater Crested Tern (T. bergii), Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus), and Saunders’s Tern (Sternula saundersi). The absence of human disturbance and the availability of food most likely influence the distribution of breeding seabirds in the Egyptian Red Sea. Most species breed throughout the spring or summer, however two species do so in the winter. Nesting birds experience greater stress throughout the summer due to the extreme temperatures. Seabirds face a significant threat from oil spills originating from offshore drilling platforms and contaminated bilge water discharged by vessels. In addition, the arrival of visitors and fisherman on islands can result in birds abandoning their nests. Visitors and fishermen should be prohibited from visiting islands during the mating season to protect nesting birds.