In this third episode, we look back on our efforts to rescue kittiwake chicks that fell off the nest too early. When a species face a high risk of extinction, every individual matters.

A kittiwake chick is looking at its nest.
Unlike the four other species of gulls found in Tromsø, kittiwake parents care for their chicks only as long as they remain in the nest. If a chick falls and cannot fly, its chances of survival are zero. In the wild, it is not rare to see chicks falling off their nests. Those who survive the fall die of hunger, or get caught by a predator.
Why do some kittiwake chicks fall off their nest?
There can be various reasons to that. A chick can be the victim of a fight between its parents and another adult that challenges the nest ownership. Somehow, adults who don't have a nest or a mate can be quite agressive towards those who are engaged in reproduction. If the chicks are left unattended by their parents, one of these "unemployed" birds may land on the nest and push chicks off their nest. To us, it looks like frustration, but who knows what birds feel.
Sometimes, a chick may suffer the consequences of its parents' success if the nest becomes too crowded. Three chicks growing in a tiny nest is a risky start in life. It is encoded in kittiwakes' DNA to stick to their nest until they can fly, but accidents happen. Speaking of accidents, the whole nest may also fall off the cliff. Considering how narrow the ledges on which kittiwakes build their nests can be, it is truly amazing that most nests hold up.

A crowded nest on a kittiwake hotel in Tromsø.
Should we let nature follow its course?
In the wild, several species rely on these fallen chicks to feed their young during the summer. For them, the chicks are a valuable resource, and removing chicks does disrupt the natural balance. In cities however, it's a different story. Well-fed domestic cats are usually the ones killing and eating lost kittiwake chicks. Rats, crows, magpies and herring gulls would occasionally take some chicks too.

A kittiwake chick that probably died from the impact with the asphalt.
The black-legged kittiwake is listed as "Highly Endangered" on Norway's list. The species faces a high risk of exctinction in the wild. In 2014, scientists predicted that the median time to extinction of the Norwegian colonies of kittiwakes was 10 to 48 years (Sandvik et al. 2014, The decline of Norwegian kittiwake populations: modelling the role of ocean warming). In Tromsø, significant resources are invested by scientists, volunteers, and the municipality to help kittiwakes. Based on all of this, when we noticed small chicks on the ground, we made a conscious decision to intervene.

A well-fed kittiwake chick (notice the round belly, full of fish).
Why don't we put back fallen chicks in their nest?
We do! In fact, it is by far our favorite scenario. Unfortunately, it is not the most common scenario because chicks must be put back in their nest, and not in any nest. Kittiwakes typically do not adopt other chicks, and it’s not always easy to determine where these chicks belong. However, thanks to the Kittiwalkers, it is sometimes possible—particularly at the kittiwake hotels, where each nest is numbered and closely monitored.

A grounded kittiwake chick under a kittiwake hotel in Tromsø.
The Kittiwake chicks orphanages
With Kittiwalkers monitoring nests and keeping an eye on the colonies constantly, it is more likely to find chicks before they get caught by domestic cats or other predators. Some of the kittiwalkers even visit the colonies night and day to make sure all fallen chicks are given a second chance.
Throughout the summer 2024, between 5 and 10 chicks were put back onto their nests, and 14 fallen chicks were taken away. Out of these 14 chicks, 1 died a few hours later, and 1 had to be euthanized because all its wing feathers had been plucked, probably by a dog. The 12 other chicks were brought to orphanages located in two locations in Tromsø. There, the chicks got taken care of, fed until they were able to fly, and released.

Kittiwake chicks orphanage in 2024.
How easy is it feed kittiwake chicks?
That depends on the chick. As a rule, the younger they are when they are found, the easier it is to feed them. Young chicks are usually chill and they eat straight away. Older chicks are more stressed and refuse food. Some chicks have to be force-fed until they understand that they are safe and they start relaxing. This process can lasts for several days, and it takes some skills, patience, determination and availability to want to save these chicks. Once a chick begins accepting the food it is offered, its chances of survival are very high.
In nature, kittiwake chicks take half-digested food directly from their parents' mouth. But that's not how we feed them in the orphanages! And so, it may take some time for a chick to understand that a piece of fish between human's fingers is food as well. But eventually, they understand it. Kittiwake chicks are picky though. If they like lean fish such as cod and pollock, they really dislike fat ones like like redfish or herring.
How do we know when it is time to release them?
When the wing feathers are shorter than the tail feathers, fledging is still some time off, and that’s about the only certainty we have. Based on our experience, everything else tends to fluctuate. Still, after caring for kittiwake chicks for several weeks, we began noticing signs that we interpreted as indications that fledging time is approaching. Typically, a ready-to-fledge chick has no more down feathers, flaps its wings to build muscle mass, is less interested in food, and becomes unsettled until escaping becomes an obsession. But again, there is no strict rule. Several chicks fledged with down feathers on the head and vent, while one chick seemed like it had no intention of leaving at all.

Kittiwalker Nina releasing a chick under a kittiwake hotel.
Will the chicks come back?
In nature, kittiwake chicks may go back to their nests after their first flight and get food from their parents for at least a week. "Our" chicks don't have this chance, and they must find food alone from day 1. Mortality rate is naturaly high the first year, and we don't know what will happen to these chicks raised by humans. Thanks to our collaboration with ornithologists from the Norwegian institute for nature research (NINA), six of the 12 chicks we released were ringed. Kittiwakes chicks usually remain at sea the first four years of their life, after which they become sexually mature and tend to return to where they were born to breed. We released them from the kittiwake hotels in Muséparken, and when or if they come back in four or five years, we will know. The Kittiwalkers will closely monitor the ringed birds.

Kittiwake chick ringed just before it was released.
What will happen in 2025?
The Kittiwalkers are remarkably effective when it comes to spotting and picking fallen chicks. Strong of the experience we have accumulated in 2024, we can expect a greater number of rescue operations in 2025. However, running a kittiwake chick orphanage is a different challenge. Thanks to marine scientists, we have an almost endless supply of fish to feed the chicks, and we are incredibly grateful for this, as purchasing pollock fillets would otherwise represent a significant expense.
In 2025, we will need a better place to set up the orphanage and more helping hands to feed the chicks. If you would like to get involved, feel free to get in touch with us.
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