We get to know Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) well throughout summer, when they return to nest along the Tyne, but there is still much intrigue – and much to be learned – about their winter ecology.
- Where do they spend their winters? Who with?
- Where, and what, exactly do they eat throughout the year?
Once the breeding season ends, Kittiwakes venture out onto the high seas of the vast Atlantic Ocean and North Sea where they spend winter, making opportunities to observe and study them much more difficult than, say, popping down to the Quayside!
We love a bit of mystery and intrigue at Wild Intrigue, but finding answers to questions such as these are increasingly important, to better understand the full global picture of conserving migrant species.
We were thrilled to be invited to attend a Kittiwake ringing day at Saltmeadows Tower Local Nature Reserve in Gateshead on 28th June, with licensed ringers Andy and Ian (pictured below) from the Northumbrian Ringing Group, supported by Gateshead Council.
What does Kittiwake ringing involve?
It’s an unusual season for the Tyne Kittiwakes, with many breeding attempts later than usual, and chicks at much more staggered stages – so the day’s ringing focussed on adult birds.
It was a real treat to see the process from start to finish.
1️⃣ First up, proportional, biometric measurements were recorded, some of which can help identify the sex of the bird, including:
- Total head length (skull to bill tip)
- Wing length
- Weight
2️⃣ Then, the Kittiwakes were adorned with their rings:
- If not already present, birds were given a small BTO split metal ring on the right leg.
- Next, a blue darvic ring was placed on the left leg. This enables observers to identify individuals at a distance.
3️⃣ In 2023, some Kittiwakes on Saltmeadows Tower were fitted with a small geo-locator, to understand Kittiwake movements and feeding patterns throughout winter. Three geo-locators were successfully retrieved during the ringing process, and we can’t wait to see the results of the data! The project received support from the Natural History Society Northumbria and Gateshead Council.
All details were carefully scribed in, essentially, a Little Black Book of Kittiwakes (which will be processed onto the BTO ringing databased) before the Kittiwakes are safely released.
In addition to vital population surveys undertaken by Dan Turner from Tyne Kittiwake Partnership, the importance of dedicated ringers – here Andy and Ian – cannot be overstated in helping protected this Red Listed species.
These positive stories often quietly unfold, but there are many wonderful people in The North doing inspiring things to keep enchantment in our world, for all life.
-Heather