Kittiwake nesting in Seaford is flourishing according to Seaford's MP Norman Baker, who has commended the work of the RSPB to educate the public on the fragility of the species through its "Date with Nature" programme.
The number of kittiwake has more than halved since the mid 1980s across the UK and populations in Scotland have crashed by almost two thirds. However, the cliff-top colony at Splash Point is bucking the trend. This year it is made up of around 1100 pairs, which is 300 more than last year. Splash Point also saw chicks hatching at the beginning of June, which bodes well for the year ahead.
In 2008, the kittiwake was added to an international watch list of threatened species, under the Ospar-Oslo-Paris Convention which was set up to protect the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic.
Norman says: "It is obviously a matter of significant concern that numbers around the country are dwindling. However, the fact that Seaford's kittiwake population is thriving is certainly very pleasant news indeed. It is clear that Seaford is most certainly the place to be if you are a twitcher and wish to see kittiwake thriving in their natural habitat."
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
