Navigating Urban Ecologies: Mapping the Habitation Patterns and Socio-ecological Dynamics of Kittiwakes along the River Tyne

Navigating Urban Ecologies: Mapping the Habitation Patterns and Socio-ecological Dynamics of Kittiwakes along the River Tyne The project explores the socio-ecological dynamics of urban kittiwakes along the River Tyne, highlighting their unique integration into the urban environments of Newcastle and Gateshead, UK. Since their initial settlement on industrial riverside structures in the 1960s, these unique seabirds have expanded to occupy a range of urban sites, including the Tyne Bridge and the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art (Coulson, 2019; Turner, 2010; Turner, 2020). While celebrated by many, their presence has also led to tensions over noise and waste, prompting the use of deterrent measures to prevent them from landing and nesting on man-made structures (Turner, 2002; Newcastle City Council, 2019; Wilson, 2022). We adopt a "more-than-human" perspective, focusing on the Tyne Kittiwakes to examine the future of cities in the context of shifting ecological relationships, climate change, and urban adaptation. We explore how inclusive strategies and participatory methods can be woven into urban ecological planning and building with nature, to enhance urban planning, politics, and policies, aiming to better accommodate socio-ecological dynamics (Folke et al., 2005). This includes understanding how urban kittiwakes navigate and adapt to intricate, ever-changing urban environments in alignment with their habits, speeds and rhythms, and how these urban environments influence their habitat and reproductive success (Turner, 2010). The challenges we engage with involve not only non-human elements but also deeply rooted socio-cultural values (Scholte et al., 2015), multispecies justice (Tschakert et al., 2021; Celermajer, 2020), and ecological restoration (Marzluff & Ewing, 2008), which are often overlooked or inadequately addressed in traditional urban planning models. This research integrates ethnographic methods, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, and machine learning to study urban kittiwake habitats and interactions. Advanced tools such as AI-based image analysis and Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) will be used to analyse the geo-spatial distribution of Tyne kittiwakes and identify key urban environmental factors—such as the distribution and quality of urban green space, proximity to water, and human activities—that influence their presence. The project investigates the evolving relationships between Tyne kittiwakes, urban nature, and human infrastructure, particularly in terms of population dynamics and spatial interactions. The virtual Newcastle Gateshead (VNG), a sophisticated 3D urban model, extends the AI and ENM analyses, while also facilitates public participation and co-creation. The aim is to lay the solid data-driven groundwork for a more-than-human governance framework, allowing urban planning policymakers, ecologists, and citizens to collaboratively envision a better future for these wild bird species co-existing with humans in urban environments. The specific objectives are to: (1) understand the complex politics of urban coexistence and how the Tyne kittiwakes both influence and are influenced by various political, socio-economic, and cultural factors; (2) identify and map out Tyne kittiwakes’ presence and inhabitation between Newcastle and Gateshead; (3) establish a resilient environment for Tyne kittiwakes considering environmental measurements; (4) reimagine the urban future for Kittiwakes under different scenarios; and (5) synthesise and formulate comprehensive guidelines for urban policies aimed at supporting and enhancing the resilience of Tyne kittiwakes. References Celermajer, D., Chatterjee, S., Cochrane, A., Fishel, S., Neimanis, A., O’brien, A., ... & Waldow, A. (2020). Justice through a multispecies lens. Contemporary Political Theory, 19, 475-512. Coulson, J. (2019). Gulls. Harper Collins Publishers, London. Folke, C., Hahn, T., Olsson, P., & Norberg, J. (2005). Adaptive governance of social-ecological systems. Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour., 30(1), 441-473. Marzluff, J. M., & Ewing, K. (2008). Restoration of fragmented landscapes for the conservation of birds: a general framework and specific recommendations for urbanizing landscapes. Urban ecology: An international perspective on the interaction between humans and nature, 739-755. Newcastle City Council. (2019). Tyne Kittiwakes and the Use of Deterrents Guidance. Available at: https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/sites/default/files/planning/Tyne%20kittiwakes%20and%20Deterrents.pdf Scholte, S. S., Van Teeffelen, A. J., & Verburg, P. H. (2015). Integrating socio-cultural perspectives into ecosystem service valuation: A review of concepts and methods. Ecological economics, 114, 67-78. Tschakert, P., Schlosberg, D., Celermajer, D., Rickards, L., Winter, C., Thaler, M., ... & Verlie, B. (2021). Multispecies justice: Climate-just futures with, for and beyond humans. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 12(2), e699. Turner, D. M.?(2002).?Disturbance?of?breeding Black-legged Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla?on the.?River Tyne,?NE England.?Bird News 5:?37–41. Turner, D. M.?(2010).?Counts and breeding success of Black-legged Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla nesting on man-made structures along the River Tyne, northeast England, 1994–2009.?Seabird,?23,?111–126. Turner, D. M. (2020). Kittiwakes Breeding along the River Tyne, 1994-2019: A Brief Overview. Northumbrian Naturalist: Northumberland Coastal Wildlife 2019, 8-13 Wilson, H. (2022). Seabirds in the city: Urban futures and fraught coexistence. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 47(4), 1137-1151.