Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 124, April 2015, pp. 22-39. | Page 2

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area between the Gaza Fisherman Port and Wadi Gaza Estuary either as
residents, visitors, or coming as stopovers.

Photo (2). Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) at the Gaza Fishermen Port. Photo
by: Ayman Dardona. 24.12.2014 …. The Black-headed Gulls is migrating and visiting
our coastal areas in winter; it is a small bird with a length of 34-37 cm. It is the most
widespread aquatic bird near the beach during early and late winter; it is mostly seen
near the sewage outlets.

Area of Observations
The area of observations included a part of the Gaza coast which extends
from the Wadi Gaza Estuary to the Gaza Fishermen Port to the north of the
Gaza Strip, Palestine. This area is characterized by the presence of several
sewage outlets especially in Wadi Gaza and around the Gaza Fishermen Port.
This section of the Gaza coast means that there is a high concentration of
nutrients; so this area is considered a good feeding and breeding place for
aquatic birds.
The observation began from spring 2013 until winter 2015, and this means the
observation of varieties through two winters.
The aquatic birds in the winter season prefer the shallow areas and are mostly
in high numbers around the sewage outlets; and this is because these outlets
are good places for their feeding and breeding. These aquatic birds are not the
only observed birds near these outlets, but some other birds which cannot be
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 124 – April 2015