MARSEILLE (13) 14.12.2022

On Wednesday 14 December 2022, at 07:36, a witness went out on his balcony to smoke a cigarette when he saw on his left "light balls" appearing and disappearing, moving irregularly, remaining in the same area for several minutes. He took pictures and a video. His wife saw the same phenomenon but did not testify. The testimony is accurate, dated, timed and supplemented by photos and video (see investigation report). The exact location of the witnesses (address of his home) and the axis of view of the photos and video confirm the direction towards which the phenomenon is observed. Thus, although only one of the witnesses reported his observation to GEIPAN, the evidential quality is good. The examination of the film makes it possible to distinguish a perceptible movement of the "balls" compatible with wing beats. GEIPAN considers the behavior conclusive about the nature of these lights. It is most likely a group of about thirty gulls (called gabians in Marseille) visible in the direction of the stadium Vélodrome (you see its characteristic roof strongly illuminated in the photos and video). The birds seem bright because of the urban lighting that is reflected on their pale breasts. During the investigation, the witness was also able to view his film on a tablet with a larger screen and concluded that the movements and context were fully compatible with a group flight of birds lit by urban lights. What made his observation strange was their brightness that he did not explain and their remoteness that had not allowed him to identify them with the naked eye, or afterward on his phone screen. The absence of other independent witnesses or unusual reports is explained by the natural and identifiable aspect of the phenomenon seen from other angles or in the vicinity. The exchange with the witness and the analysis of the photos and video suggest that a group of gull-like birds are observed illuminated by urban lights. The presence of these birds is common in this area, confirmed by the video’s soundtrack in which such birds are heard. GEIPAN classifies the case A: observation of a group of birds illuminated by urban lights. It is probably gulls.