Status of Armenian Gull Larus armenicus in Iran with introducing its newest breeding habitat in Meyghan wetland, Markazi province
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Abstract
Armenian Gull Larus armenicus formerly listed as a subspecies for Herring Gull Larus argentatus and further introduced as a full species in 1980. This species mostly found in Caucasus and Middle East regions. Thair breeding areas are in Georgia, Armenia, Turkey and Iran. Meyghan wetland is an important wintering area for a number of migratory species especially for Common Crane Grus grus, furthermore it is the second suitable breeding habitat, (the Lake Uromiyeh is the first), for Armenian Gull, the only summer visitor species from Large-headed Gulls of Iran. This article is the result of field surveys which carried out in two breeding and wintering habitats. Survey about breeding of Armenian Gull in Meyghan wetland carried out in June & July 2008. This species breeds in islets which lie in eastern part of Mine road. The most wintering distribution of this species is in the north and west of Iran. Based on the reports between 2004 and 2007, the most of wintering population were in the West Azarbayjan province and after that was the Mazandaran province, and the least population belonged to Fars province. It highlighted importance of the Lake Uromiyeh for this species. Developing conservations levels and decrease the man made disturbance of these two wetlands, as main breeding and wintering habitat of Armenian Gull Larus armenicus in Iran, are the most important priorities for conservation.
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