Petition Update No. 12: Tuesday, 16 March 2021.

The Ferry Mews Kittiwakes are standing on the building and its near neighbour considering their next move. Their normal nesting ledge is unavailable behind deterrent netting installed in December.

I am seeking permission to place (in the first instance) three eight-foot nesting ledges nearby for these birds and have contacted a riverside property owner, North Tyneside Council, Port of Tyne, the Marine Management Organisation and the Environment Agency. If the riverside property owner agrees to the placement of three ledges then an application for planning permission is required by North Tyneside Council – this process can take between 4 and 8 weeks to complete. If permission is granted, we may be in a position to place the ledges during June. This would be too late for them to be used for nesting this year, but perhaps the kittiwakes may begin to settle on them ready to nest in a future year – though this cannot be guaranteed. Each eight-foot ledge would be sufficient to hold five or six Kittiwake nests. The gulls obviously like this small site for nesting.

A bank account has been set up to accept donations; it has two signatories and an auditor. Donations will not be accepted until permission to proceed is received.

Thank you for your interest, we are ever hopeful for a successful outcome.

With Best Wishes from Daniel and the Kittiwakes of North Shields

(Photo: 3 March 2021, on the Tyne beside Ferry Mews)