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The spikes that might kill kittiwakes in 2025.

Writer's picture: Delphin RuchéDelphin Ruché

Updated: Dec 8, 2024

The 28th of November, a group of Kittiwalkers mapped the spikes that are likely to injure or kill kittiwakes during the next breeding season. We have until February to ensure these spikes are removed and replaced with more effective bird deterrents—a solution that will benefit both the kittiwakes and the people living or owning buildings in Tromsø.



Ban the spikes!


Spikes may be effective against pigeons, but they are mostly ineffective against kitiwakes. Kittiwakes are deeply attached to their previous nesting sites and will attempt to rebuild their nests in the same spot year after year, no matter how uncomfortable it is for them.


Every year, images of kittiwakes covered in blood circulate in the media and on social platforms, casting a harsh spotlight on building owners who did not know that spikes are a harmful and ineffective solution for deterring kittiwakes. The fire brigade is frequently called during the summer to rescue kittiwakes impaled on spikes and many of these injuries are so severe that the birds must be euthanized by local veterinarians. All this trouble could be avoided by using alternative deterrents, coupled with the installation of designated breeding structures ("kittiwake hotels") to contain the dispersion of the dislodged pairs.


As a reminder, the black-legged kittiwake is highly endangered on Norway's Red List. They are facing a high risk of extinction 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). Kittiwakes don't eat our food, and they don't defend their nests against people. They seek refuge in Tromsø, and use human-made structures to build their nest.



The spikes to remove


The following spikes are a threat to kittiwakes:

  • Sjøgata 39

  • Sjøgata 31/33

  • Sjøgata 12


We will now try to identify the building owners and reach out to them. If you want to help, contact us and join the effort. If you own one of these buildings, please contact us, we will assist you.


The two photos below are an example of a safe and effective way to get rid of kittiwakes. Instead of spikes, the building owner covered the sign with a slanted board on which kittiwakes can't build a nest. We would commend the building owner for choosing this solution over spikes—if only it hadn’t been implemented during the breeding season, which is strictly prohibited by law.



Some bad news for kittiwakes, for Tromsø municipality and for everyone living or owning buildings in Tromsø city center


The two main kittiwake colonies in Tromsø city center will be wiped out before the next nesting season. Why is it is also bad news for the people in Tromsø? This is it what we explain here.


The first colony to be wiped out is behind Storgata camping on the Mack buildind facing the harbour. This building will be torn down. Eiendomsspar and Mack are facilitating the relocation of over a hundred pairs. For this, a kittiwake hotel will be put up close to the ex-colony with the hope that kittiwakes will relocate to the hotel. The hotel will then be moved away from the building toward the sea where kittiwakes are not considered a nuisance.


The second colony is the one that was on the roof of Søndre Tollbodgate 3 (Full Steam restaurant). Pellerin AS, the building owner will now cover the roof with deterrents, but no kittiwake hotels will be put up nearby as a compensatory measure.

This kittiwake colony of over 50 nests will probably split in small units, and spread to other neighboring buildings, possibly to buildings that were not used by kittiwakes before. This is why destroying kittiwake nests without providing an alternative nesting site is bad news for everyone.


Kittiwalkers surveying the kittiwakes nesting on one of Pellerin's buildings


The Tromsø hot potato


In addition to these two colonies, Nord Norsk Kunstmuseum has renovated its facade, and equipped all the window sills with anti-bird fire gel. At least 24 pairs of kittiwakes were using the building. If no one can argue against the renovation and protection of a building, ignoring kittiwakes comes down to throwing the hot potato to the neighbors. For a decade now, hot potatoes have been tossed across the streets of Tromsø. The Nord Norsk Kunstforening, Radisson Hotel, Tromsø Domkirke and Pellerin AS are just some of the latest participants in this ongoing game of blame-shifting.


The Nord Norsk Kunstforening before its renovation





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