Kittiwakes at Strandvegen 8 need a long-term solution.

The Strandvegen 8 case highlights how a poorly considered decision ended up worsening the very issue it aimed to resolve (getting rid of the endangered kittiwake). Now, for kittiwakes and for people working or living the neighborhood, an alternative breeding site is needed.

Kittiwakes attempting to nest on Strandvegen 8 in June 2025.

From success to disaster

In 2024, nearly one hundred pairs of kittiwakes nested on two kittiwake hotels located on the roof of Strandvegen 8. Made of scaffolding and plywood, these hotels were the first of their kind in Tromsø. They were initially set up by the municipality in Muséparken to lure kittiwakes away from the Kunstforening building. The structures were later relocated to the roof of Strandvegen 8, where they successfully drew in birds that might otherwise have nested on various buildings.

The two kittiwake hotels on the roof of Strandvegen 8 in summer 2024.

In the winter of 2024–2025, the municipality moved the two kittiwake hotels from the rooftop to the street behind the building. Stacked to form a tower, the new structure appeared promising. But shortly after installation, the municipality dismantled it, following complaints, before the breeding season started.

No alternative nesting solution was offered to the hundred displaced pairs.

The kittiwake hotel in 2023.

Startled kittiwakes

When kittiwakes came back from their wintering grounds at the start of the year, they couldn't find their former colony. Because kittiwakes are very faithful to their previous nest, the pairs sat where the hotels used to be. Even after all the snow had melted and trees had turned green in the city center, many kittiwakes were still waiting on the roof of Strandvegen 8.

Unlike other species of seagulls, kittiwakes don't breed on flat roofs.

Kittiwakes on the roof of Strandvegen 8 where their former colony was.

Spreading to the neighbors

The Kittiwalkers, who closely monitor these pairs, noticed that some kittiwakes started to settle on the sides of the building. In spring, a few kittiwakes started building nests on the windows' sill of Strandvegen 8 and Framsenteret, which had previoulsy been covered with nets to keep kittiwakes away.

Kittiwakes waiting on the roof of Strandvegen 8 and settling on window sills in spring 2025.

Then, kittiwakes started relocating to other neighboring buildings, such as Strandvegen 15B, Mellomvegen 40, Mellomvegen 50 or Sommerfeldts gate 74.

On the 22d of June, someone witnessed the illegal destruction of kittiwake nests a few hundred meters away from Strandvegen 8. The case ended up in Nordlys, Northern Norway's largest media outlet.

"Here the nest of the red-listed bird is removed", in Nordlys, 22 June 2025.

Predictable outcome

As of now, kittiwakes have established nests on several buildings near strandvegen 8 that had no previous history of kittiwake breeding. The Kittiwalkers are carefully monitoring these nests this year.

Ironically, the removal of the two successful kittiwake hotels, intended to eliminate the birds' presence, has led to a worse outcome. The birds are now nesting directly on Strandvegen 8, on both sides, as well as on other neighboring buildings.

Kittiwakes nesting on Strandvegen 8 after the removal of the kittiwake hotels that were concentrating the birds (June 2025)

Sharing Tromsø with an endangered species

The situation at Strandvegen 8 highlights how a poorly considered decision ended up worsening the very issue it aimed to resolve. Like it or not, kittiwakes are now a part of Tromsø’s urban landscape. While we can’t predict how long they’ll stay, we must act now to reduce the perceived disturbance and develop alternative nesting sites that can draw them away from buildings.

We can only hope that kittiwake hotels will be re-established near Strandvegen 8 this winter. Both for kittiwakes, and for people living or working in the neighborhood.

Kittiwakes on their alternative breeding site in 2023.

Unlike other seagulls, kittiwakes don't eat our food. They don't attack people to defend their nest and chicks. The black-legged kittiwake is listed as Endangered on Norway's Red List.