The Kittiwalkers rescued 15 kittiwake chicks in 2025.

For the second year in a row, Rissa Citizen Science and the Kittiwalkers rescued kittiwake chicks that had fallen from their nests. We also set up a live cam and streamed the chicks on YouTube. Now is the time to reflect on these rescue efforts and consider how we can do better next year.

Chick Dumpling, rescued on August 3 in Skattøra by Julian, and released successfully on August 12.

From rescue to release

This year, we rescued 15 kittiwake chicks. Eleven of them were found in Skattøra, by Julian, who is by far Tromsø's first kittiwake rescuer. Beside Julian's, 1 chick was found by Ingrid in Røstbakken, 2 in the city center by Matthew and Daniel, and 1 in Muséparken by Naima.

Out of the15 rescued chicks, 10 were successfuly released, and 5 had to be euthanized or died soon after being rescued. In comparison, in 2024, we rescued 16 chicks, 4 of which had to be euthanized. The chicks were all brought to Rissa Citizen Science's office, and placed in an open carboard box.

Inside their box, the chicks stood on a wooden cube, following their natural instincts. When the chicks leap out of their cardboard box, it is the signal that they are ready to fly. It happens suddenly, and from then on, they have only one obsession: to take off and leave!!

Chick Dora, rescued by Julian on August 7, was caught on camera jumping out of her box on August 21.

High mortality this year

We rescued only one chick at Muséparken and Fylkeshuset this year. This is remarkably low considering that this area was the main kittiwake colony in Tromsø city center this year.

We suspect that crows were simply quicker than us at finding the fallen chicks, even though Naima was out with her dog Odei around 6 a.m. nearly every morning. In early August, Naima described Muséparken and Fylkeshuset as a "kittiwake graveyard". This was before bird flu was detected in Tromsø. After that, more birds (including kittiwakes, herring gulls, ducks and crows) were found dead, but this time usually not eaten.

Crows killed many kittiwake chicks this year at Muséparken and Fylkeshuset. Despite daily walks, Kittiwalkers arrived often generally too late to rescue the fallen chicks.

Generous supporters

Feeding kittiwake chicks takes fish, and not just any kind, but white, lean species like cod (torsk) and pollock (sei), which the chicks prefer. We are deeply thankful to everyone who donated fish or fish money.

A special thanks goes to Ina, who celebrated her birthday with a “kittiwake chicks party”, choosing to forgo gifts and instead inviting her guests to donate to Rissa Citizen Science to secure more fish for the chicks.

Many thanks to Adam, Anna Liisa, Daniel, Camille, Eike Maria, Ilona, Ina, Iona, Maren, Mona, Naima, Sigrid and Veronica for donating fish or fish money. May thanks to the anonymous donors too!

Chick Dora posing for a photo on August 21 before taking off.

Rescued chicks live on YouTube

Between August 9 and 22, we streamed rescued kittiwake chicks on You Tube. This initiative is a first in Tromsø, and aimed to foster empathy for this endangered species, and promote coexistence. Each chick was named based on their personality, and many people stopped by to meet them, or to feed them.

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Sparebankstiftelsen SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge and Birdlife Troms are supporting our effort to promote coexistence with kittiwakes in Tromsø. Focus Nordic supported our kittiwake work by offering us an excellent price on binoculars, which we were then able to lend to the Kittiwalkers throughout the season.