Raising Awareness
The purpose of this website is to share information regarding a selection of breeding colonies of Kittiwakes within the UK and beyond. There is a focus on such colonies where pairs have moved away from building their nests amongst traditional coastal sites and have instead opted to move into our towns and cities.
Campaigns
In some cases, their arrival has been welcomed; sadly, not everyone is keen to host a colony of Kittiwakes. This website also helps raise awareness where anti-bird deterrents have been installed on man made structures in an attempt to deter birds nesting. Where these anti-bird deterrents have been harmful to birds’ campaigns have been organised asking for their removal. All species of Gull are protected under the » Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Our Seabirds Need Your Help
Kittiwakes are » Red-Listed Globally the species has declined by 40% since the 1970s. Red is the highest conservation priority with species needing urgent action.
Kittiwakes trapped in anti-bird netting
On the Exchange Buildings, Newcastle Quayside
in July 2018
by Paul Buskin
There is an increasing need to help safeguard existing birds and secure and protect their nesting sites. However, many of the structures that Kittiwakes themselves have chosen to host their colonies on, are very old and legislation complicates efforts to protect these colonies of Kittiwakes that are coming into our towns and cities to shelter from our changing climate.
Kittiwakes nesting on Spa Bridge
in Scarbrough by Mark Chamberlain
Beyond the UK
It is hoped over the coming months/years; this website will expand to include other Kittiwake colonies such as in Norway and France.
Research
It is also hoped that via this website visitors will be able to view more links to seabird research etc.
Can you help support Kittiwakes.org?
Contributions are greatly appreciated and welcomed by all that share our love for Kittiwakes and other seabirds.
Sharing Best Practice
As the content for this website develops further it may also be possible to host a national in-person conference or virtual event to help share best practice and enable conservationists to network. Any such event would be organised for not-for-profit with any costs related to expenses; and anything beyond donated to those supporting the colonies and any research. It is also possible that such events maybe free if these were held virtually. And if successful may become a calendar item.
As our climate continues to change the need to protect our seabirds will become ever more important and if larger portions of Kittiwakes continue to move away from their coastal colonies then the need to raise the flag and campaign to help support them will rise.
Kittiwakes are also just one species amongst many that are struggling at this time. Not just with climate change, access to food sources and pollution; but also, with Avian Flu.