I am conducting a PhD with the University of Exeter in collaboration with RSK Biocensus to investigate the ecology of black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) breeding on offshore platforms. My fieldwork is focused on oil and gas platforms in the Irish Sea where I have been monitoring several kittiwake colonies. The project aims to inform sustainable approaches to managing impacts on birds nesting on these structures during planned decommissioning and re-purposing works.
My work has involved field testing a sonic deterrent to determine whether it could deter birds from choosing to nest on part of a platform. I have also conducted counts of nesting birds, monitored their breeding behaviour, phenology and success using remote cameras, and investigated movement patterns using GPS trackers and coloured rings.
We hope to better understand why offshore platforms are attractive to breeding kittiwakes, how offshore colonies differ from terrestrial colonies and what contribution they make to the wider kittiwake population. We are also seeking to learn how decommissioning of at-sea structures can be achieved in a way that is of minimal impact to kittiwake colonies, but cost-effective for the operators.