RINGING IN THE CHANGE

The JNCC census aims only to count seabirds. Other studies, though, require a more hands-on approach. If we’re to get the data we need to really help our Kittiwakes, we need to monitor the birds’ movements over time – and that means ringing. So, what’s it like getting up close and personal with a Kittiwake colony? Gavin Woodbridge signed up to assist in Kittiwake-ringing on Scotland’s Aberdeenshire coast. “Three things stand out,” Gavin says. “The noise, the smell, and the gape.” The Kittiwake’s open bill displays a strikingly bright red gape, which encourages the chick to peck for regurgitated food. Access, Gavin says, is the main challenge facing the Kittiwake-ringer. “Safety is a priority when ringing cliff-nesting seabirds and you need a good platform to get to the birds. When I went to ring them, we climbed down a slope onto the shore below the cliffs. Not all cliffs will allow for this and you have to bear in mind the tide! The aim is to get a good sample, though we were limited to a ladder’s reach. Other colonies are on islands, which add an extra challenge, but with a good plan you can ring a good number of birds.” There’s a lot to think about. “Once you have worked out how you will get to the nests,” Gavin says, “you need to consider timing. Not all the chicks will be the same size (or hatched) in a visit and it’s wise to limit visits to minimise disturbance and avoid bad weather. The chicks need to be around a week or more old to ring and you want to avoid disturbing them when younger. In a season, you may only visit the colony to ring birds once or twice. With a recce, it is possible to find a good time so you can maximise the number of birds ringed. It’s also important to consider other seabirds which may be using the cliffs, to minimise disturbance.” Adult Kittiwakes will respond quite aggressively to human intruders – “they have sharp feet and a keen bite,” Gavin recalls – but their offspring seem to take the ringing process in their stride. “The chicks appear unfazed. As soon as they’re ringed they clamber back into the nest and hunker down.”