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Why [Rissa]?

Writer's picture: Delphin RuchéDelphin Ruché

Updated: Nov 29, 2024

Rissa tridactyla is the scientific name of the black-legged kittiwake, a species of bird that is listed as highly endangered (EN) in Norway.

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A powerful symbol


We chose the name "Rissa" because of our early efforts to survey and rescue kittiwakes in Tromsø. We deeply care about these birds and have consistently advocated for their protection.


But it is not the only reason.

Rissa carries deeper meaning beyond our conservation work. Kittiwakes are like us: they are social beings, and Rissa Citizen Science would be nothing without its members and supporters. As with kittiwakes, there is safety - and efficacy - in numbers.



Kittiwakes are also a symbol of our complex relationship with nature. Like many other species, the black-legged kittiwake is being driven towards extinction due to human activities and their environmental impacts.


Kittiwakes also confront us with our own contradictions, especially when they seek refuge in our towns. While most of us express a desire for a healthier planet, as a society we often struggle to share space with wildlife. There’s a prevailing notion that nature belongs "out there," away from where humans live and have their activities. But where do we draw the line between where we live and where we allow nature to exist?



In Tromsø, Hammerfest, Newcastle, and other coastal cities across Europe, kittiwakes spark controversy while also bringing people together. In Tromsø, this dynamic is particularly striking. Kittiwakes are at the center of a heated debate. Although some argue that seabirds have no place in town—even when that town is a small island surrounded by the sea—an ever-growing community is pushing for practical solutions to coexist.


This heated debate reveals one thing: kittiwakes are victims of our ignorance. It is more difficult to feel empathy for something or someone we don't know or understand. For many people, kittiwakes are just another "seagull" trying to steal fries, unaware that kittiwakes feed exclusively at sea and don't defend their nests against predators (or a human getting too close). Tromsø is home to five species of seagulls, each with its own habits and needs, yet they’re often lumped together in people’s perceptions.

"No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced." Sir David Attenborough


Kittiwakes also symbolize our demographic shift from rural areas to urban centers, where we progressively lose our connection with the natural world, its smells and its sounds. Did you know that seagulls once had a positive reputation along the Norwegian coast? People built nesting platforms on poles to attract them, and nearly every farm had at least one platform. In return for a few eggs that added variety to diets based on cod and potatoes, seagulls benefited from the safety of nesting out of reach of otters and other ground predators.


Kittiwakes challenge us to rethink the concept of "encroachment." Is wildlife truly invading our towns, or are we pushing our urban expansion into the last remnants of nature? In Tromsø, finding the answer is as simple as taking a moment to look around—north, south, east or to the west across the sea.


In a world in which humans have colonized nearly every corner, how can we expect to coexist with other life forms if we cannot share space with nature in our own backyard?


May Rissa show us the way to coexistence!



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