School pupils have been helping to create artificial kittiwake nests and decoy baby chicks for a new 'Kittiwakery' tower on the banks of the River Tyne. Newcastle and Gateshead has the largest inland nesting site for kittiwakes in the world. Since the 1960s many have nested on buildings and structures on the Tyne as an easy stop-off point on their route to the sea.
The gulls, which are at risk of global extinction, feed and spend the winter in the region before returning to land to nest between February and August. Now they look to be settling into a new artificial kittiwake tower installed on the river Tyne at Gateshead, named the Kittiwakery. Environmental and community charity, Groundwork NE & Cumbria, have supported Shoney Wind, a renewable energy consultancy with the new Gateshead tower.
Read more: Man pleads guilty to causing death of eight month old baby and auntie in A1 collision in County Durham Keep up to date with all the latest local news from Newcastle with our free newsletter And pupils from Newburn Primary and Percy Hedley have been assisting with the work by helping to create artificial nests and decoy baby chicks. The team has made artificial kittiwake nests out of natural materials and 3D-printed decoy birds for installation in the tower to attract kittiwakes as they return to the Tyne. The project aims to determine the best towers for nesting sites for the gulls.
It comes as the Tyne Bridge undergoes restoration work, a spot which has been a popular nesting.
