MIGRATION AND DISPERSAL OF AUDOUINS GULL LARUS-AUDOUINII FROM THE EBRO DELTA COLONY

Migratory paths and dispersal patterns of Audouin's Gulls (Larus audou inii) born in the Ebro Delta have been studied, as well as their degre e of philopatry. The gulls always disperse southwards from the colony, and only the juveniles seem to disperse in other directions. Dispersa l patterns of 2y, 3y and older gulls are similar, wintering mainly on Iberian Mediterranean and Moroccan Atlantic coasts. Juveniles migrate before the rest of the age classes and they winter south of older guns , in the Senegambia region. However, conclusions on Audouin's Gulls mo vements are difficult to draw, owing to the large differences in resig hting and recovery efforts. Data presented also suggest that Audouin's Gulls do not appear to breed before the age of four years.