Deaths of young seagulls raise fears in Van’s island

VAN - Doğan News Agency

Seagulls visit Van Lake’s Adır Island to reproduce and eat gray mullets. AA Photo

Adır Island on Van Lake in Southeastern Anatolia, which is a natural place for seagulls to reproduce, is currently witnessing the deaths of many seagulls. The incident has attracted academics from Yüzüncü Yıl University (YYÜ) to the area to study the issue, with a 10 person team visiting the island and cleaning the area.

YYÜ Wild Life protection manager Lokman Aslan said the deaths were caused by fish migrations, and are a part of natural life. The deaths of seagulls are also thought to be related to hot weather and hunger.

If the death numbers continue to rise, the association will feed the seagulls. Aslan said the deaths were also caused because the seagulls were faced with the migration of gray mullets. The gray mullets have already reproduced and they have migrated early. Normally, seagulls eat gray mullets, but there are none right now, he said, adding that the heat could also be a factor. “Adır Island is the main land area where sea gulls reproduce. The shores of the island are clean, which is why fish come to the shore to reproduce.

The seagulls that reproduce at this time of year eat those newly born fish,” he said. However, when the reproduction of the fish has finished, they leave, seagulls die because of hunger.