Research

Tyne & Wear 

On Tyneside, like many parts of the UK, populations of Curlews, Lapwings and Redshanks are significantly lower in present times especially compared to the 1980s.  Some of the habitats have been repurposed into cycleways, housing or for new industry. Substantial portions of pollution remain deep in the riverbanks however; a legacy of the region’s Industrial past.

 

A Rock Pipit by Paul Buskin from Anglesey
A coastal species that has been recorded recently eleven miles inland
as far as Newcastle Swing Bridge on more than one occasion.  

Over the past decade a variety of coastal bird species have been venturing deeper inland; at times as far as the » Dunston Staiths.  The most famous of course is the Kittiwake, which has moved away from their traditional coastal cliffs, instead opting to fly eleven miles inland to set up a colony using bridges and nearby buildings.

Such patterns have not been entirely limited to the Kittiwakes however.   A wide variety of species of birds, that very much spend their time and live along our coastlines are not only travelling and visiting inland, but the frequency, and time spent is increasing as is the quantity of individuals involved.

A Guillemot from Bamburgh
A coastal species that has been recorded as far as the
Dunston Staiths which is over 11 miles inland in recent times.  

Some species such as Dunlin and Turnstone are found during spring and autumn when many birds are arriving or leaving as the seasonal clock turns.  But many of the dates these species are being recorded fall outside these.  The Kittiwakes are also only with us during the Spring and Summer months, whereas many of these additional species that are being found appear at varying times of the year.  More research is needed.

• What are these birds feeding on?
• Why are they now, coming so far inland?
• Is it by choice?
• Will more follow?

Will a local university or wildlife organisation opt to raise their flag and investigate this?

 

 

A Shelduck by Paul Buskin – Dunston Staiths/Newcastle Business Park – River Tyne
A species regularly recorded around Blaydon and Gateshead

Kittiwakes

Hundreds of Kittiwakes in Scarborough are moving a relatively short distance from their traditional coastal cliffs, and instead building their nests on town centre buildings.  Similar patterns are being noted in other places such as Lowestoft and in a far greater scale in Norway. 

• Why are they choosing to move inland? 
• Is it due to changes in weather patterns?
• What can we do to support inland colonies of Kittiwakes and to educate
  and raise awareness to those that live and visit such towns an cities?
• And will there remain sufficient sources of food in our seas to sustain coastal/inland colonies
  of Kittiwakes and other seabirds?

 

Kittiwakes nesting on town centre buildings in Lowestoft from D Houghton