Birdwatch News Archive

Northern Gannets are countering the trend of declining seabirds at the RSPB's flagship reserve at Bempton Cliffs, North Yorkshire. Photo: Steve Young (www.birdsonfilm.com).

Yorkshire Gannets soar

Posted on: 16 Oct 2012

Numbers of breeding Northern Gannets at Bempton Cliffs RSPB have soared over the last three years.

Research this summer at the North Yorkshire reserve between Bridlington and Filey has revealed that since 2009, there has been a remarkable rise of 40 per cent in breeding pairs of the seabird on its sheer chalk cliffs. The reserve has Britain's largest mainland breeding Northern Gannet colony.

Previous surveys by RSPB staff and volunteers have shown a year-on-year growth since records began in 1969, when there were only 22 pairs at the site. This year’s figures reveal there are now 11,061 breeding pairs, a leap of 3,202 pairs since the last survey in 2009. The researchers also counted 798 non-breeding birds, which when they are old enough to find mates, will add to the numbers to increase the amazing wildlife spectacle, which attracts visitors throughout spring and summer.

Assistant Warden David Aitken, who led the boat-based survey that recorded the figures, is thrilled that these spectacular birds are going from strength to strength. “Gannets and some other seabirds can fly huge distances – sometimes as far as 600 km round trips – in their search for food,” he said. “This is one of the reasons why vital offshore Marine Protected Areas are needed to safeguard not just seabirds but also other sealife and the important areas where they feed.

“The RSPB’s fight to ensure adequate protection for our marine environment is hugely important. While gannets are on the increase at Bempton Cliffs, the fortunes of seabirds across Britain are mixed, with some suffering dramatic declines,” he added.

In July, researchers discovered a bird on the reserve which had come all the way from Jersey in the Channel Islands. “We have had birds from Bass Rock [East Lothian] in Scotland before but never, to our knowledge, one from so far south,” said Dave. “As we learn more and more about Bempton’s amazing seabirds, we build up a more detailed picture of the actions that need to be taken to ensure a brighter future for our marine wildlife.”

The growing number of gannets in the colony is bringing an added bonus for photographers. This year, birds have gathered in ever-bigger numbers almost next to the cliff-top path and close to specially-built viewing platforms.