What future for the kittiwake colony in Skattøra?

The kittiwake colony at Skattøra is essential to the conservation of the black-legged kittiwake, a highly endangered (EN) and legally protected species in Norway. While successful coexistence solutions have been implemented in Tromsø's city center, none have yet been tested in Skattøra. This may change this year through a promising collaboration with the building’s owner.

Kittiwakes coming back to their nest (Skattøra, April 2025).

Skattøra is an industrial zone with warehouses, car dealerships, tall metal buildings, and heavy construction machinery. The seaside of the road is flanked by rock-filled lots, part of ongoing efforts to extend Tromsø island into the sea. To make room for more buildings, the island has been excavated extensively, and this has created cliffs that eventually became attractive to kittiwakes.

A cliff used by kittiwakes in Skattøra.

A challenging coexitence

For the owner's perspective, the presence of the kittiwake colony presents a challenge. He frequently receive complaints from tenants about the noise and smell associated with the birds. To address the issue, a net was installed over the cliff face. However, kittiwakes are highly faithful to their nesting sites and have adapted by attempting to build nests directly on the net. Since the net cannot be perfectly sealed against the rock, some birds manage to slip through gaps and become trapped between the net and the cliff. Once inside, kittiwakes cannot escape, raising serious animal welfare concerns. Besides, as a legally protected species, disturbing kittiwakes during their breeding season is against the law.

Covering the cliff with a net seemed like a solution, but it is not working. Workers will keep complaining about the sound and the smell, kittiwakes get trapped and injured, while the owner exposes himself to fines and negative publicity.

Injured kittiwake found trapped between the cliff and the net on the 6th of april 2025.

Solving problems through cooperation

In recent years, Tromsø has emerged as an open-air laboratory where innovative solutions for coexisting with kittiwakes are being explored. Scientists, architects, urban planners, artists, and volunteers—like the dedicated Kittiwalkers—have come together to promote harmonious cohabitation. Thanks to these joint efforts, we now have a clearer understanding of what works and what doesn’t. One thing is certain: the kittiwakes are here to stay. While their population is plummeting across the country, their numbers on Tromsøya are rising sharply, making Tromsø a vital refuge for a species otherwise heading toward extinction.

"Based on a business-as-usual scenario, the median time to extinction of the Norwegian colonies of kittiwakes is 10 to 48 years." Sandvik et al. 2014, Climate Research journal

Kittiwake and its nest on a building in the Skattøra industrial zone.

What's happening next in Skattøra?

After a kittiwake was discovered trapped between the cliff and the net on April 6th, Rissa Citizen Science contacted the building owner. The conversation was constructive, and the owner agreed to cut the net approximately three meters above ground level. This adjustment will provide an escape route for any kittiwakes that might find themselves caught between the cliff and the net in the future.

The owner also agreed to meet and explore alternative solutions to address the challenges he faces as a building owner. Relying solely on deterrents to drive kittiwakes away is rarely effective. Experience from Tromsø city center and other urban areas shows that the most successful approach combines non-harmful deterrents with the creation of alternative nesting sites, such as kittiwake hotels. The goal is to discourage the birds from nesting on some structures while attracting them to a purpose-built artificial cliff, where noise and smell are less of a concern. This approach has an added benefit: it helps prevent the colony from spreading to surrounding buildings, reducing the risk of further local conflicts.

The owner said he would cut the net today or tomorrow, and we are looking forward to meeting with him to discuss long-term solutions that benefit him, the workers and the highly endangered black-legged kittiwake.

Kittiwakes breeding on a cliff in Skattøra.