The River Tyne’s kittiwakes are a global urban rarity. As the only seabird species to nest in city environments, these birds have become icons of Newcastle and Gateshead.
Since the 1960s, they’ve adapted to urban life, establishing colonies on iconic structures like the Tyne Bridge and Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.
But the birds’ presence hasn’t always been welcomed by the area’s human population – and the noise and mess caused by hundreds of breeding pairs of kittiwakes has led to many riverside businesses installing deterrents such as spikes and nets.
Now, a groundbreaking research project aims to explore the kittiwakes’ unique role in urban ecology and propose innovative strategies to ensure the birds can coexist successfully with humans in the future.
The team behind the project are calling for people living in the North East to get involved by sending them video footage, photos and audio clips of the kittiwakes, taken at any time over the last 10 years.
This will help them build up a picture of how the birds are currently sharing the quayside area with people, and how this could be improved to make life better for both kittiwakes and humans in the future.
The research has been awarded a Design Exchange Partnership (DEP) as part of the ambitious, multi-million-pound Future Observatory: Design the Green Transition fund led by London’s Design Museum and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
Launched this month, the study embraces a "more-than-human" perspective, emphasising the relationships between Tyne kittiwakes, urban infrastructure, and human communities.
It focuses on the tidal estuary’s unique ecological characteristics, which provide critical habitats despite often being overlooked or undervalued.
By addressing the complexities of urban biodiversity, the research aims to establish a governance framework that promotes harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife.
The study will employ a range of analytic tools to assess the impacts of urban development on biodiversity, including urban modelling, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and machine learning.
It will also engage local communities in participatory workshops, co-creating solutions alongside residents, ornithologists, urban planners, and NGOs.
The project team brings together experts from architecture, urban studies, computer science, and ornithology, and is led by Dr Jiayi Jin, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban Studies at Northumbria University.
She will be joined by Northumbria colleagues Dr Bing Zhai, from the Department of Computer and Information Sciences who will lead machine learning and bird identification; and Dr Ayse Ozbil Torun from the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, who will analyse spatial distributions using GIS and integrate findings into the urban model.
The team will be supported by Daniel Turner, an experienced ornithologist and kittiwake research expert from the Natural History Society of Northumbria.
Daniel and the core academic team will lead public engagement activities in collaboration with Wild Intrigue and Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, the project’s non-academic partners.
Sarah Munro, Director of Baltic said: "As a study partner, Navigating Urban Ecologies will enable even more opportunities for Baltic visitors to connect with the Tyne Kittiwakes through creative workshops, knowledge-sharing and participation in this exciting study. We are thrilled to be able to connect the study to our large and diverse audience, giving people a unique insight into these wild sea birds who we share our building and city with for half the year, each year."
The project emphasises the ecological significance of estuarine spaces like the River Tyne, highlighting their role as critical habitats and zones of exchange for human and non-human life.
By combining scientific research, urban planning, and public participation, the study will help to position Newcastle and Gateshead as global leaders in biodiversity-friendly urban development.
This initiative not only addresses the challenges faced by Tyne kittiwakes but also envisions cities as inclusive spaces where nature and humanity thrive together.
As part of the project there is an art and an architecture competition taking place, with entries from the local community encouraged.
The research team are also asking for anyone who has photo, video or audio recordings of the kittiwakes, both recent and from the last 10 years, to submit files through the project website.
A number of public events will also be held, with the first taking place on Thursday 20 February, from 6pm to 8pm at the Farrell Centre, Elson Place, Newcastle.
This event, entitled City Forum: Exploring Urban Ecologies through Collaborative Participation, will involve talks by Dr Jiayi Jin, Dr Ayse Ozbil Torun and Dr Bing Zhai of Northumbria University; Cain Scrimgeour, Co-Director of Wild Intrigue; ornithologist Daniel Turner, of the Natural History Society of Northumbria; and artist Julia Heslop, a research fellow at Newcastle University.
For more information about the project or to get involved please contact Dr Jiayi (Jennifer) Jin or visit the project website.