The land owned by Hydro-Québec near the hydroelectric plant in Beauharnois has long served as a refuge for hundreds of seagulls during the warmer months. Richard Boursier, a resident of Léry, wonders about the absence of this species, known by its scientific name, the ring-billed gull.
Translation Amanda Bennett
“Normally there are nearly a thousand of them. What’s going on?” he wonders.
Richard Boursier contacted the City of Beauharnois. The city stated that the gulls are usually numerous at this time of year. Beauharnois has not identified any environmental issues that could explain their departure. “Their presence can vary depending on several natural factors, including weather conditions, food availability, and their breeding habits,” the city explained.
As for the Châteauguay Ornithological Club, its president, Sylvain Murphy, says he has not been notified of the bird’s absence in Beauharnois. “We know that ring-billed gulls used to nest on the headland in front of the Hydro-Québec dam, but we don’t know why they aren’t there this year,” he says.
No headcount
Hydro-Québec acknowledges that the gulls are usually present near its facilities and the bridges on Route 132 in Beauharnois.
It is impossible to know how many there are.
“Hydro-Québec does not conduct any studies,” said Julie Robert, Community Relations Advisor at the state-owned corporation. She adds that the company does not maintain a “specific record” indicating how long the birds have been nesting in this area.
Le Soleil was unable to obtain answers regarding the reasons for their absence. Hydro-Québec referred the newspaper to the Canadian Wildlife Service/Environment and Climate Change Canada, which specializes in the study of the ring-billed gull.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is unaware of the absence of gulls in Beauharnois. “The bird may be forced to change its nesting site only to return a few years later,” said Hannah Boonstra, Senior Communications Advisor at Environment and Climate Change Canada.
The federal agency notes that ring-billed gulls were first observed on Hydro-Québec’s property in Beauharnois in 1989. There were nearly 1,200 adults accompanied by chicks. According to its data, ECCC estimated the number of breeding pairs at 7,032 in 1991. “Subsequently, the Ministry’s regular monitoring documented a slow growth in the colony, reaching a peak of 13,888 pairs in 2016. However, during the most recent inventory conducted in 2023, a decline of nearly 40% in the colony’s size was observed,” explained Ms. Boonstra.
Hydro-Québec’s properties provide the breeding species with food sources and resting areas near waterways, while also offering shelter from predators. “They are well protected from predatory mammals—foxes, raccoons, or even stray cats and dogs—since the land is partially fenced and partially surrounded by water. Furthermore, the low vegetation, the flat terrain of the islets, and the proximity to water are advantages that the gulls greatly appreciate,” continued Ms. Boonstra.
Filmmaker André Desrochers discusses the ubiquity of gulls in Beauharnois in an episode of the series Éco du Suroît aired in the late 1980s and in the film Les Saisons du Suroît, released in the early 2000s. In the episode of the Éco du Suroît series, Mr. Desrochers recounts that the gulls would freely leave the Hydro-Québec properties and often end up on the roadway of Route 132. Several birds died after being struck by motorists. In the late 1980s, a worker was assigned to collect the seagull carcasses.
