Yellow-legged gull chicks fill wildlife centre in southern Portugal

Spring and summer have brought a surge of yellow-legged gull chicks to the CRASSA wildlife recovery centre in Vila Nova de Santo André, which currently has 10 juveniles under care. Most fall from nests built on rooftops or urban structures, or are injured during early flight attempts; some nests are also illegally destroyed. Chicks mainly arrive from Sines, Santiago do Cacém and Odemira, rescued by GNR's SEPNA, ICNF wardens or citizens. The centre also treats storks, swifts, swallows and other native species, and recorded 508 admissions across 79 species in 2025, mostly birds.