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They are part of the mythical seabirds of Brittany: the gannets, whose only colony in France is on the Sept-Îles, opposite Perros-Guirec. If their population was greatly reduced because of the avian flu last summer, the gannets have just made their comeback.
It is the only colony of gannets in France, opposite Perros-Guirec (Côtes-d’Armor). In the summer of 2022, these seabirds almost disappeared, decimated by avian flu. Corpses had been picked up on the surrounding beaches. Consequence: the colony lost more than half of its workforce.
Half-hearted news
But the first couples returned in February 2023, a relief for enthusiasts. Good news in the form of a sham? “The birds are faithful to their nest (…) The resilient couples who have survived have returned to nest on their site. Many neighbors are absent”observes Pascal Provost, curator of the Sept-Îles nature reserve, who adds that the colony is “very sparse”. A precarious situation, shared by all colonies of gannets in the North Atlantic. None were spared by the avian flu in 2022.
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