Urban wildlife

Last week in Newcastle we had another look at the seabird colony on the Tyne bridge, it's growing and the piles of the bridge look more and more like a cliff covered in guano.
Apparently, the bridge's kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) colony is believed to be the most inland one of seabirds anywhere in the world.
The bridge is now considered an important breeding site for these birds, but their nests are threatened by the complaints of nearby residents who dislike the noise and mess they cause.

Give the city a small piece of the love you give to the countryside
Franz Hessel



You can check the BBC website. Kittiwakes are usually found nesting on precipitous sea cliffs, where large numbers crowd together to nest on narrow ledges. However, the granite "cliffs" of the towers of the Tyne Bridge provide a perfect substitute for Tyneside's kittiwakes.
Last year there were about 150 nests on the bridge and Newcastle City Council has installed information boards about the birds on the Quayside.