Every winter, it’s the same thing. An unusual song resounds throughout the city! Those who love coastal cities often associate it with the seaside… and yet you can hear it in Paris! It’s the song of the seagulls! It’s a spectacle that takes place every winter until March. During this period, it’s not uncommon to see them around the Place du Trocadero or the Tuileries Gardens. But why do seagulls invade Paris?
Seagulls in Paris? A love affair dating back over 30 years
Since 1990, seagulls , as well as gulls and cormorants, have taken up residence in Paris on their migratory routes. These seabirds, originally from Scandinavia, flee the coolness of the North Sea for a warmer climate and more abundant food, in the space of a few months. Every year, there are around 5,000 black-headed gulls in the capital, and a hundred or so pairs of gulls. Some of the birds come from Finland, Denmark and even Poland!
After an effortless stay in Paris, these migratory birds return home in March to breed. But some species, such as the Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull and Black-headed Gull, can spend the whole year in Paris.
Where do these birds live in Paris?
During the day, gulls can be found flying over Paris in search of food, but they never stray far from the water. They are more abundant along the Seine towards Ivry, on the city’s canals and near the lakes of the Bois de Boulogne and Vincennes.
As night falls, their instinct to protect themselves from predators returns. The birds therefore take shelter under the city’s various bridges, such as the Pont d’Austerlitz, opposite the Jardin des Grands-Moulins. They also like to spend the night on the Boulevard Victor and Boulevard Javel in the 15th arrondissement, and just about everywhere else in the Paris region. Sometimes more than 2,000 individuals can be found in one and the same place! Now you can see why they love Paris so much.