Lowestoft's Avian Residents and the Challenges of Urban Nesting

The town of Lowestoft has experienced a resurgence of kittiwakes, a species listed as red. Initially, the birds were encouraged to nest on two offshore structures, designed to protect them from wind farms. Despite these man-made havens, the kittiwakes have returned to their traditional nesting sites within the town, causing problems for local businesses. Shopkeepers are spending considerable time cleaning up the mess left behind by the birds.

The two bird hotels, standing 26 feet tall, were built as sanctuaries for one of the UK's few urban seabird colonies. However, the structures are facing controversy as nearly 2,000 kittiwakes have chosen to nest in Lowestoft instead. This has led to frustration among residents, reflected in the increasing gull population. The kittiwakes, usually loyal to their birthplace, return to the town each spring and summer, causing significant inconvenience for businesses.

Local shop owner Mr. Vino expressed his frustration, citing the smell and mess as issues. Despite the good intentions behind protecting the seabirds, which have experienced a global population decline, this situation has become a point of contention for the locals.

Lowestoft has been a successful urban colony for kittiwakes since the 1950s. Visitors have noted the mess, describing it as an eyesore. One resident observed the birds' disruptive behavior, including damaging property.

While some residents find the birds a marvelous sight, others are dealing with the consequences of their presence. The birds return in large numbers, with the first arrivals appearing in February. They nest on buildings, and their waste often lands on the pavement. The smell is attributed to rotting fish, their primary food source.

The kittiwake hotels were built to provide nesting opportunities, especially to protect the birds from wind turbines. The goal is to eventually encourage the birds to nest in the hotels instead of the town. The birds tend to return to their birthplace, and the more birds there are, the more mess is created.

In 2023, an energy firm constructed the offshore nesting structures. A council spokesperson clarified that the structures were not intended to relocate the existing kittiwakes, as they are loyal to their nesting sites.

Ornithologists proposed a plan to resolve the conflict between the birds and residents, including using decoys and recordings to lure the birds to the hotels. A kittiwake chick hatched at a hotel last year, raising hopes for increased nesting and egg-laying within the structures. The aim is to encourage the birds to choose the hotels over the town for nesting.