6:03am 3rd January 2018
Concerns about about anti-bird
netting in Scarborough have been raised after a number of endangered Kittiwakes
were spotted dead in netting on the Grand Hotel.
Photos on social media show the birds trapped in the netting.
Photos on social media show the birds trapped in the netting.
Shame to see dead Kittiwakes
caught in anti-bird netting on @BritanniaLtd's Grand
Hotel, Scarborough. @northyorkscc@TheScarboroNews @RSPBNews @Bempton_Cliffs
The Kittiwake is described on
the RSPB website as gentle looking, medium-sized
gulls with a small yellow bill and a dark eye. They have a grey back with white
underneath. Their legs are short and black. In flight the black wing-tips show
no white, unlike other gulls, and look as if they have been 'dipped in ink'.
The population is declining in some areas, perhaps due to a shortage of
sandeels. After breeding birds move out into the Atlantic where they spend the
winter.
The birds are on the red
list of endangered species with populations though to have declined by 40%
since 1970 leaving just 300,000 breading pairs.
In a statement the RSPB
said.
We understand that netting is
sometimes used to prevent kittiwakes from nesting on buildings. However, it
vital that this is installed correctly and maintained regularly to ensure that
it acts as a bird deterrent rather than a death trap.
It is upsetting to see kittiwakes have died in this way especially as they are a nationally declining bird and are of serious conservation concern. We will be contacting The Grand Hotel to request that the netting is repaired immediately so no more birds will
die needlessly.
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