Listening to what I knew would be my last nightingale for quite some time, I have to admit I was quite sad to be leaving such a spectacle behind. Kent is where my career started and progressed, and where I had the privilege of working on reserves with some of the highest density of nightingale in the UK.

But through that loss I’ve also gained incredible new spectacles on my doorstep, and the Tyne Kittiwakes are certainly up there as one of the best!

Kittiwakes are a charming species of gull, not to be confused with the much larger Herring gull that is known for boldly pinching fish and chips occasionally! They are perfectly adapted to living out at sea for long periods, and their name derives from their distinctive call which can be heard from March to August from the centre of Newcastle and Gateshead. However, this sound is declining across the rest of the UK – kittiwakes are now a red-listed species with a 41% decline since 1994, making our kittiwakes an essential stronghold for the species.

History of the Tyne Kittiwakes

Kittiwakes are the only gull species that are exclusively cliff-nesting – however the Tyneside population have thrown out the rule book and established the largest inland breeding colony in the world, right in the heart of Newcastle/Gateshead. They first began nesting along the River Tyne in 1949, where over the years they gradually made their way up the river and eventually settled in the heart of the city. The Tyne Bridge is a particular favourite of theirs, growing from 3 nests in 1996 to an incredible 1000 today (about half of the Newcastle population)! Despite the negative trend in most parts of the UK, the Tyne kittiwake population continues to grow, with 2022 being the first year with more than 2000 nests!

Why along the Tyne?

So, why is it that we have such a successful seabird on our doorstep? Like the increasing urban peregrine population, the kittiwakes have discovered that our city structures mimic cliff faces pretty well, and the ocean where they hunt is just a short commute down the river. On top of this, the city provides a much more stable environment for them to raise their young, and there are less predators in the city compared to more rural locations. As far as a kittiwake is concerned, this makes Tyneside prime real estate territory! As a result of these benefits, the breeding success in Newcastle/Gateshead is impressive – about 75% of chicks will fledge successfully. It is no surprise that this habit of breeding on man-made structures appears to be growing not just in the UK, but internationally too, albeit on much smaller scales compared to the Tyne population.

Conserving our Kittiwakes

Durham Wildlife Trust is part of the Tyne Kittiwake Partnership, formed to help safeguard the population through education and taking action where necessary. In recent months the partnership has been key to advising mitigation methods for the upcoming Tyne Bridge restoration work, which is expected to take over two years. A key member, Dan Turner, has been monitoring the population since the 1990s, and it is thanks to his huge amount of time and effort that we know so much about this population. With the population growing, his work also grows with it – taking around one week per survey!

Seeing the Tyne Kittiwakes

I could not recommend enough a trip to Tyneside at this time of year – it truly is such a wonderful urban spectacle. The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art possesses one of the best views, where you can admire nests less than two metres away from you (plus the spectacular views of the City). Arguably even better, through our Kittiwake Cam you can observe kittiwake nests in your own home any time you like:

Watch Kittiwake Cam

The parents are busy feeding the chicks at the moment, so do keep an eye on the camera in the coming weeks to witness the chicks taking their first flight, not to return to land for up to three years! After their ‘gap years’ travelling the open seas, the teenagers will hopefully return once more to the city, continuing to provide us with unparalleled views.