Protecting seabirds at Bempton Cliffs

By Jo Makel

Advertisement

Look North's Jo Makel talks to Ian Kendall, RSPB warden at the Bempton Cliffs reserve

At this time of year the sea birds start returning to Bempton.

The cliffs make an ideal home for them to feed and breed.

RSPB Assistant Warden Wesley Davies said: "Some of the first to come back are the ganets which is the largest sea bird we have in the UK and Bempton is the only place they breed on the mainland in England.

"At this time of year we're looking forward to the season, to the spectacle, coming back to our coast. And we're looking to see how many birds are returning and what condition they're in, so how fruitful they've been when they've been wintering out at sea."

The RSPB closely monitor the birds. They've just completed a two year project assessing the state of the colony.

The colony is in good shape. At the height of the breeding season there are about 200,000 birds here.

Ganet numbers have been increasing now for the fifty years. In 1969 there were only about 21 pairs of ganets. Now there are more than 7,800 pairs.

Guillemots too are growing in number. In 1969 there were 12,000 birds. Now there are around 60,000.

Other colonies particularly those in Scotland have seen a decline in bird numbers.

There is still thought to be a decline in puffins at Bempton although they are hard to monitor because of they nest further into the cliffs.

And there is a decline in herring gulls. Ten years ago there were about 700 pairs of herring gulls. Now there are less than 500 pairs.

There are also concerns about how climate change may be affecting the birds and whether they'll have to fly further out to sea in the future to feed.