{"id":16791,"date":"2026-04-30T13:31:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T13:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/?post_type=artikler&#038;p=16791"},"modified":"2026-04-30T13:35:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T13:35:05","slug":"tromsos-kittiwakes-have-their-own-hotels","status":"publish","type":"artikler","link":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/tromsos-kittiwakes-have-their-own-hotels\/","title":{"rendered":"Troms\u00f8\u2019s kittiwakes have their own hotels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-ingress\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vnn__ingress\">\n\t\t\t\t<em>Noisy little birds nesting on space-age edifices in a bustling city centre? Troms\u00f8 provides a red-listed seabird species with specially designed hotels. The story is both endlessly sad and cautiously optimistic.<\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In Troms\u00f8, you can see little seagulls \u2013 <strong>kittiwakes <\/strong>\u2013 nest on sleek, slimline modern structures. At first glance, it\u2019s easy to assume that these so-called <strong>kittiwake hotels<\/strong> are simply a way of turning wildlife into a tourist attraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is, however, more to the story; a complex drama involving dropping bird populations, a rocky relationship between wildlife and people, city planning and innovative architecture \u2013 all against a backdrop of climate change, the nature crisis and the state of our planet. Nothing less. <\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-2\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwakes-at-Hornoya-Island-in-2014.jpg\" data-size=\"1602x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwakes-at-Hornoya-Island-in-2014-1367x2048.jpg\" alt=\"Photographed on Horn\u00f8ya \u2013 Norway\u2019s easternmost point \u2013 in 2014, with black-legged kittiwake crowding the narrow ledges. Today, the population is greatly reduced \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwakes-at-Hornoya-Island-in-2014.jpg\" data-caption=\"Photographed on Horn\u00f8ya \u2013 Norway\u2019s easternmost point \u2013 in 2014, with black-legged kittiwake crowding the narrow ledges. Today, the population is greatly reduced \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwakes-at-Hornoya-Vardo-2014.jpg\" data-size=\"1602x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwakes-at-Hornoya-Vardo-2014-768x1151.jpg\" alt=\"Stronger together \u2013 the black-legged kittiwake is a colonial seabird that seeks company. As numbers decline, they become more vulnerable to attacks from white-tailed eagles, crows and ravens \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwakes-at-Hornoya-Vardo-2014.jpg\" data-caption=\"Stronger together \u2013 the black-legged kittiwake is a colonial seabird that seeks company. As numbers decline, they become more vulnerable to attacks from white-tailed eagles, crows and ravens \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: Photographed on Horn\u00f8ya \u2013 Norway\u2019s easternmost point \u2013 in 2014, with black-legged kittiwake crowding the narrow ledges. Today, the population is greatly reduced \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: Stronger together \u2013 the black-legged kittiwake is a colonial seabird that seeks company. As numbers decline, they become more vulnerable to attacks from white-tailed eagles, crows and ravens \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The kittiwakes left the coast and moved to town<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Norway, kittiwakes were until recently nesting in big colonies along the coast, primarily in the northernmost reaches. A couple of million of them were nesting at the <strong>Syltefjordstauran<\/strong> bird cliff near B\u00e5tsfjord. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/hornoya-is-norways-most-easterly-point-and-a-twitchers-dream\/\">Horn\u00f8ya<\/a><\/strong>, <strong>Sv\u00e6rholtklubben<\/strong>, <strong>Hjelms\u00f8yastauran<\/strong> and <strong>R\u00f8st<\/strong> used to have tens of thousands. Not a single pair was nesting in Troms\u00f8, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first kittiwakes were observed in Troms\u00f8 only in 2015, nesting in residential areas near the southern tip of the Troms\u00f8 island. Other locations got nesting seagulls long before, notably <strong>Newcastle-upon-Tyne<\/strong> in the UK already in the 1940s the wharf in the city of <strong>Vard\u00f8<\/strong> and the fishing community of <strong>R\u00f8st<\/strong>. However, until then, most kittiwakes had been found in colonies along the outermost coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bird-colonies-go-extinct\">Bird colonies go extinct<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the same year, 2015, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nina.no\/english\/About-NINA\/Contact\/Employees\/Employee-info?AnsattID=18095\"><strong>Tove Kristin Reiersen<\/strong> <\/a>visited the bird colony at <a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/aktiviteter\/bleiksoya-is-a-cone-in-the-ocean-full-of-birdlife\/\"><strong>Bleiks\u00f8ya<\/strong> <\/a>in the Vester\u00e5len islands. In the 1990s, some 6000 pairs had been counted \u2013 but Tove found that the colony had no nesting kittiwakes at all. A colony had simply gone extinct. At <strong>Syltefjordstauran<\/strong> \u2013 once the biggest of them all \u2013 it is now very quiet in spring and summer. &nbsp;The same goes for the other big colonies. The total population in the North Atlantic is but a fraction of what it was just a few decades ago. So, some serious changes have taken place.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-2\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/aunegarden-2022-bird-cliff-in-mini-formate.jpg\" data-size=\"1800x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/aunegarden-2022-bird-cliff-in-mini-formate-1536x2048.jpg\" alt=\"One of Troms\u00f8\u2019s older houses, photographed in 2022. The window frames are crowded with black-legged kittiwake, as the ledges are just wide enough for nesting. Since then, metal caps have made them uninhabitable \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/aunegarden-2022-bird-cliff-in-mini-formate.jpg\" data-caption=\"One of Troms\u00f8\u2019s older houses, photographed in 2022. The window frames are crowded with black-legged kittiwake, as the ledges are just wide enough for nesting. Since then, metal caps have made them uninhabitable \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/aunegarden-2022-closeup-of-kittiwakes-nesting.jpg\" data-size=\"1800x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/aunegarden-2022-closeup-of-kittiwakes-nesting-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"In 2022, this house was for rent \u2013 and at the same time home to nesting black-legged kittiwake. A quiet reminder of the challenges of sharing space in Troms\u00f8\u2019s city centre \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/aunegarden-2022-closeup-of-kittiwakes-nesting.jpg\" data-caption=\"In 2022, this house was for rent \u2013 and at the same time home to nesting black-legged kittiwake. A quiet reminder of the challenges of sharing space in Troms\u00f8\u2019s city centre \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: One of Troms\u00f8\u2019s older houses, photographed in 2022. The window frames are crowded with black-legged kittiwake, as the ledges are just wide enough for nesting. Since then, metal caps have made them uninhabitable \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: In 2022, this house was for rent \u2013 and at the same time home to nesting black-legged kittiwake. A quiet reminder of the challenges of sharing space in Troms\u00f8\u2019s city centre \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why did kittiwakes become urbanites?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Why does a seabird leave colonies along the ocean and move to town? The reasons for this are not totally clear \u2013 but there are some theories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most important factor may be <strong>rising sea temperatures<\/strong>. Kittiwakes don\u2019t dive underwater, they snatch their prey from the surface. If <strong>herring <\/strong>and <strong>capelin<\/strong> \u2013 the most important sources of food \u2013 start swimming deeper down, the kittiwakes can\u2019t reach them. Or maybe the shoals of herring and capelin migrate further north \u2013 a phenomenon seen by many fish species along the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More <strong>predators<\/strong> \u2013 white-tailed eagles, ravens and crows \u2013 may also be a contributing factor. The effects of <strong>commercial fishing<\/strong> are more debated \u2013 fish stocks are closely monitored and fishing strictly regulated. However, the data are inconclusive \u2013 and more research is underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Urban kittiwakes find new food sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Troms\u00f8 kittiwakes don\u2019t fish on the open sea anymore. Instead, they have found a new food source. In the big <strong>fjord<\/strong> systems near town, there is more fish than before. This is explained by an earlier spring \u2013 causing an increased outflow of nutrient-rich freshwater into the fjords. Hence, increasing temperatures both forced the kittiwakes to relocate \u2013 but also provided new food sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contrary to popular belief, garbage is not a food source, and unlike their bigger relatives, they never ate waste from fishing boats. They are too small to pose a threat to your hot dog \u2013 kittiwakes are strict pescatarians and insist on fresh fish only. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-2\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kittiwake-hotel-first-attempt-in-tromso.jpg\" data-size=\"1350x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kittiwake-hotel-first-attempt-in-tromso-1152x2048.jpg\" alt=\"The first kittiwake hotel looked like this \u2013 simple and low-cost, yet effective in attracting black-legged kittiwake displaced from nearby public buildings to nest. It has since been dismantled \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kittiwake-hotel-first-attempt-in-tromso.jpg\" data-caption=\"The first kittiwake hotel looked like this \u2013 simple and low-cost, yet effective in attracting black-legged kittiwake displaced from nearby public buildings to nest. It has since been dismantled \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwake-hotel-in-Tromso-giving-shelter-to-an-endangered-species.jpg\" data-size=\"1350x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwake-hotel-in-Tromso-giving-shelter-to-an-endangered-species-768x1365.jpg\" alt=\"A near-latest generation kittiwake hotel \u2013 sleek and futuristic in metal. Minimalism for gulls \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwake-hotel-in-Tromso-giving-shelter-to-an-endangered-species.jpg\" data-caption=\"A near-latest generation kittiwake hotel \u2013 sleek and futuristic in metal. Minimalism for gulls \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: The first kittiwake hotel looked like this \u2013 simple and low-cost, yet effective in attracting black-legged kittiwake displaced from nearby public buildings to nest. It has since been dismantled \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: A near-latest generation kittiwake hotel \u2013 sleek and futuristic in metal. Minimalism for gulls \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Relationship status: It\u2019s complicated<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Around 2020, Troms\u00f8 had been invaded by the kittiwakes. A sociable colony bird, they were on <strong>roofs<\/strong>, snow guards along the roofs being a favourite, walls, on window sills \u2013 anywhere with easy sea access and protection against predators. &nbsp;Window lintels on historic houses were also popular, with kittiwakes keeping a high sound level and leaving streaks down windowpanes and historic panelling. <strong>Office workers <\/strong>couldn\u2019t open their windows for months, and city centre residents were kept awake all night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When NAV &#8211; the welfare agency &#8211; hired a <strong>crane<\/strong> to clear away the nests from their dominant downtown building, they were reported to the police for <strong>wildlife crime<\/strong> and <strong>habitat destruction<\/strong>. The local comment sections bristled with indignation, and the little seagull seemed to have few friends. And at the same time, the kittiwake was red-listed as an <strong>endangered species<\/strong> \u2013 as the traditional bird colonies up north were emptying fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9649a0d9 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\"><div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-architecture todo-attractions todo-culture-and-history todo-polarhistory todo-worldwar2 facilities-sustainable-travel season-autumn season-spring season-summer season-winter region-tromso malgrupper-culture-lover malgrupper-heritage-explorer malgrupper-local-insider malgrupper-slow-traveller wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/walk-the-historic-centre-of-tromso\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IMG_7960-768x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tTroms\u00f8\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Walk the historic centre of Troms\u00f8 &#8211; your own city walk<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tCulture and history\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-eat-and-stay todo-food-in-northern-norway facilities-sustainability facilities-sustainable-travel season-autumn season-spring season-summer season-winter region-tromso malgrupper-culture-specialist malgrupper-local-insider wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/restaurants-in-tromso-serve-up-the-tastes-of-the-arctic\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/FISK3134-768x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tTroms\u00f8\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Restaurants in Troms\u00f8 serve up the tastes of the Arctic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tFood in Northern Norway\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-drink-in-northern-norway todo-eat-and-stay season-autumn season-spring season-summer season-winter region-tromso malgrupper-local-insider malgrupper-slow-traveller malgrupper-unplugger wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/william-went-to-town-in-tromso-read-his-story\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MNH6918-768x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tTroms\u00f8\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>William went to town in Troms\u00f8 &#8211; read his story<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tDrink in Northern Norway\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learning to deal with kittiwakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Both the City of Troms\u00f8 and the troms\u00f8ites had been caught off guard by someone even louder than ourselves. In 2022, the city was about to restore its <strong>old museum<\/strong> from 1894. The classical <strong>windowsills <\/strong>and ledges here had of course been irresistible to our feathered friends, and work was brought to a halt. Also, the nearby <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/framsenteret.no\/english\/\">Fram Centre<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 with various institutions working with environmental issues \u2013 had turned into a <strong>mini-bird cliff.<\/strong> And by now, nest destructions were not an option. What could be done? The team looking after municipal buildings had to let it simmer a bit \u2013 new ideas were called for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A monument to the nature crisis?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawrencemalstaf.com\/work\/seagull-fountain-kittiwake-hotel-02022\/\">Lawrence Malstaff <\/a>\u2013<\/strong> a Belgian artist comfortably fluent in the Troms\u00f8 dialect \u2013 wanted to turn the <em>S\u00f8rjet\u00e9en<\/em> \u2013 the jetty near both the old museum and the Fram Centre \u2013 a new home for the kittiwakes by making a construction and feeding them fish offal, simultaneously functioning as a <strong>memorial <\/strong>to the nature crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like almost everyone in Troms\u00f8, he didn\u2019t know kittiwakes only eat fresh fish. Also, the jetty was <strong>too far <\/strong>away from the buildings with the nests. Kittiwakes are homebodies who don\u2019t like to move \u2013 and none of them moved in. &nbsp;Similar \u2013 but more expensive \u2013 miscalculations were made in <strong>Berlev\u00e5g <\/strong>on the Barents Coast, where a bigger construction \u2013 also an art project &#8211; was totally ignored by the kittiwakes. It was simply too far away.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-3\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/naert-opp-pa-krykkjehotell.jpg\" data-size=\"1350x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/naert-opp-pa-krykkjehotell-1152x2048.jpg\" alt=\"Close up of the kittiwake hotel \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/naert-opp-pa-krykkjehotell.jpg\" data-caption=\"Close up of the kittiwake hotel \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kittiwake-hotell-nash-malstaff.jpg\" data-size=\"1350x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kittiwake-hotell-nash-malstaff-768x1365.jpg\" alt=\"Kittiwake hotel and winter lantern \u2013 a kittiwake hotel in Troms\u00f8 \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kittiwake-hotell-nash-malstaff.jpg\" data-caption=\"Kittiwake hotel and winter lantern \u2013 a kittiwake hotel in Troms\u00f8 \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/krykkjehotell-kittiwake-hotel-nash-malstaff.jpg\" data-size=\"1350x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">03<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/krykkjehotell-kittiwake-hotel-nash-malstaff-768x1365.jpg\" alt=\"The newest kittiwake hotel by Lawrence Malstaf and architect Kjeld Nash glows like a lantern on a winter evening before the nesting season begins, enriching the cityscape just metres from Troms\u00f8\u2019s busy main street \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/krykkjehotell-kittiwake-hotel-nash-malstaff.jpg\" data-caption=\"The newest kittiwake hotel by Lawrence Malstaf and architect Kjeld Nash glows like a lantern on a winter evening before the nesting season begins, enriching the cityscape just metres from Troms\u00f8\u2019s busy main street \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: Close up of the kittiwake hotel \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: Kittiwake hotel and winter lantern \u2013 a kittiwake hotel in Troms\u00f8 \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><figcaption>03: The newest kittiwake hotel by Lawrence Malstaf and architect Kjeld Nash glows like a lantern on a winter evening before the nesting season begins, enriching the cityscape just metres from Troms\u00f8\u2019s busy main street \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Move the kittiwakes little by little<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, the City of Troms\u00f8 built some simple constructions on a municipal building just south of the Fram Centre. These constructions were makeshift and light, but very close to the windows of the Fram Centre- now made inaccessible to the kittiwakes by mesh. But the constructions were close enough, and the kittiwakes dared to relocate. What had one learned? That kittiwakes can be moved, but not very far. If you want to move them, you\u2019ll have to do a little bit every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hotels on the move<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Lawrence \u2013 with the help of Troms\u00f8 architect <strong>Kjeld Nash<\/strong> \u2013 then came up with the idea of movable \u201cKittiwake hotels\u201d.&nbsp; Tall, lightweight constructions \u2013 with lots of perfectly sized ledges where the kittiwakes can nest over several years. They were placed on the lawn in front of the <strong>county hall<\/strong> (Troms Fylkeskommune) and in the park below the old museum \u2013 both immediately south of the city centre. The newest has even got multiple colours. Visitors going between <a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/aktiviteter\/polaria-explains-the-arctic\/\"><strong>Pola<\/strong>r<strong>ia<\/strong><\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/olhallen-is-tromsos-oldest-watering-hole\/\">\u00d8lhallen <\/a>beer hall and the other attractions in the area can photograph the beautiful birds \u2013 and in the depth of winter \u2013 before the nesting season &#8211; they are lit. All in all \u2013 they are visually attractive and add interest to your walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-3\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Maseangrep-i-midnattssol.jpg\" data-size=\"1800x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Maseangrep-i-midnattssol-1536x2048.jpg\" alt=\"A European herring gull mistook the photographer\u2019s camera for a hot dog and went on the attack. No troms\u00f8ites were harmed in the making of this image \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Maseangrep-i-midnattssol.jpg\" data-caption=\"A European herring gull mistook the photographer\u2019s camera for a hot dog and went on the attack. No troms\u00f8ites were harmed in the making of this image \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/maser-pa-rekkverk-ved-Prestvannet-sildemaser.jpg\" data-size=\"1800x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/maser-pa-rekkverk-ved-Prestvannet-sildemaser-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A Common gull by Prestvannet \u2013 a lake less than half an hour from Troms\u00f8\u2019s city centre, shared with herons, divers and various duck species \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/maser-pa-rekkverk-ved-Prestvannet-sildemaser.jpg\" data-caption=\"A Common gull by Prestvannet \u2013 a lake less than half an hour from Troms\u00f8\u2019s city centre, shared with herons, divers and various duck species \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwake-in-the-cathedral-green-in-Tromso.jpg\" data-size=\"1800x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">03<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwake-in-the-cathedral-green-in-Tromso-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A curious European herring gull joined us when our office took lunch outside on a fine summer day. Not feeding the gulls is highly practical \u2013 take our word for it \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kittiwake-in-the-cathedral-green-in-Tromso.jpg\" data-caption=\"A curious European herring gull joined us when our office took lunch outside on a fine summer day. Not feeding the gulls is highly practical \u2013 take our word for it \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: A European herring gull mistook the photographer\u2019s camera for a hot dog and went on the attack. No troms\u00f8ites were harmed in the making of this image \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: A Common gull by Prestvannet \u2013 a lake less than half an hour from Troms\u00f8\u2019s city centre, shared with herons, divers and various duck species \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><figcaption>03: A curious European herring gull joined us when our office took lunch outside on a fine summer day. Not feeding the gulls is highly practical \u2013 take our word for it \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kittiwalks take us around town with a bird perspective<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Occasionally, there are <strong>kittiwalks<\/strong> organised to see them. I, however, went along with a small group of local enthusiasts in early April. They are <strong>volunteers <\/strong>to monitor the kittiwakes \u2013 and with an app we went from one location to the other. Led by <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rissa-cs.org\/coexisting-with-kittiwakes-in-tromso\">Delphin Ruch\u00e9<\/a><\/strong>, we started in the northern end of the city and went around by bike. Every single kittiwake nest in town is found on the app, and we were taught how to register the kittiwake activity. Have the kittiwakes returned or not? Any successful nesting means there is <strong>someone on the nest<\/strong> \u2013 the parents take turns in brooding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-habitats-have-been-discretely-destroyed\">Habitats have been discretely destroyed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It turned out to be rather sad; owners of houses had done their best to cover up all ledges with sloped metal flashings. <strong>Bird spikes<\/strong> were used a lot a few years ago but were widely criticized for harming the birds. I hadn\u2019t noticed all the discreet <strong>sloped metal flashings<\/strong> before, but they have apparently been efficient \u2013 one nest after the other had been turned uninhabitable. We were told that the dialogue with <strong>property companies <\/strong>hadn\u2019t proven successful \u2013 everyone just wanted to get rid of the nests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We ended up at the kittiwake hotels in the city centre\u2019s southern end. They had started to fill up, but with less seagulls than before. I was impressed with the knowledge and the dedication of the little group but also saddened by the declining number of nests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is the problem solved?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The situation for the kittiwakes is <strong>worsening <\/strong>every year. Very few kittiwakes nest in the densest areas of the city centre \u2013 spikes and metal make almost all the good spots inaccessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The kittiwake hotels have a <strong>lower occupancy<\/strong> than one hoped for. However, kittiwakes live for many years. Given time, they may be convinced that the hotels are a good solution. We shouldn\u2019t give up hopes. Especially as bird experts, city planners, architects and the public gain more knowledge about the kittiwakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-it-s-an-attitude-thing\">It&#8217;s an attitude thing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is also an <strong>attitude thing.<\/strong> How much space do we want to give wildlife in our immediate surroundings \u2013 especially in urban areas. \u201cI come from a small island where we lived rather peacefully with the seagulls\u201d Tove Kristin Reiersen says \u201cand I was surprised by the aggression city folks in Troms\u00f8 displayed against the seagulls\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the attitudes are changing. A parallel are <strong>insect hotels <\/strong>in gardens \u2013 we are concerned about the insects disappearing and make insect hotels and plant wildflowers. And are willing to live with wasps. We also install nest boxes and feed birds \u2013 because we are aware of the nature crisis. Noisy birds with a well-functioning plumbing system we seem to accept more readily than before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kittiwake hotels is a new architecture genre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>learning by doing<\/strong> experience in Troms\u00f8 and other northern locations has given birth to a new type of architecture- <strong>bird hotels<\/strong>. In April 2026, <strong>Kjeld Nash<\/strong> was in the jury of an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.120hours.no\/archive\">architectural competition<\/a> for new kittiwake hotels. The winner of the competition included recycling a floating salmon pen, providing immediate access to the sea, distance to human viewers and protection from predators. Another contestant places the seagull hotels in a nifty position between the columns carrying the Troms\u00f8 bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can you help the kittiwakes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most important contribution from a visitor is to <strong>love the kittiwakes<\/strong>. Go to the seagull hotels, take some photographs and study these noisy, sociable creatures in their homes. Keep a few metres away &#8211; and don\u2019t walk under the constructions to avoid droppings. The sheer interest shown by concerned locals and visitors alike is crucial to preserving the last remnants of a once large population of kittiwakes in our region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9649a0d9 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\"><div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler season-autumn season-spring season-summer season-winter region-tromso malgrupper-local-insider wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/twelve-shades-of-arctic-light-how-tromso-changes-through-the-year\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/David-Jensen-@jensenmedia-midnight-sun-arctic-cathedral-summer-night-768x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tTroms\u00f8\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Twelve Shades of Arctic Light \u2013 How Troms\u00f8 Changes Through the Year<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-architecture todo-art todo-attractions todo-culture-and-history todo-festivals facilities-family-friendly season-autumn season-spring season-summer season-winter region-tromso malgrupper-culture-lover malgrupper-culture-specialist malgrupper-heritage-explorer malgrupper-local-insider wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/the-cinema-verdensteatret-in-tromso-is-a-century-of-film-history\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Et-julelys-pa-vidvanke-foran-Verdensteatret-i-Tromso-Knut-Hansvold-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tTroms\u00f8\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>The cinema Verdensteatret in Troms\u00f8 is a century of film history<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tAttractions\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-activities todo-architecture todo-art todo-attractions todo-culture-and-history todo-glacier-hiking todo-hiking todo-hiking-trips todo-midnight-sun todo-polarhistory todo-trekking season-summer region-tromso malgrupper-bucket-list-betty malgrupper-heritage-explorer malgrupper-local-insider malgrupper-nature-lover wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/tromso-is-the-cool-summer-city-literally\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"513\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_9766-768x513.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tTroms\u00f8\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Troms\u00f8 is the cool Summer city &#8211; literally<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tHiking trips\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-0\">\n\t\t<ul><\/ul>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2026and then the seagulls that were always here\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the kittiwakes are new, there were always seagulls in Troms\u00f8. Grown-up Troms\u00f8ites remember heavily laden fishing boats lying so deep in the water that the sea nearly reached the gunwale -with swarms of seagulls around. Busy fish factories lined the seafront \u2013 with flocks of seagulls scouting for the next tidbit from the roof. These days, fish offal can\u2019t be released into the sea \u2013 and it also has a value as salmon fodder. Garbage handling is also a closed-in affair without any access for the seagulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the advent of the kittiwakes, two species of seagulls were present in downtown Troms\u00f8 in significant numbers. Then there are a few others observed occasionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>common gull<\/strong> (<em>Larus canus<\/em> ) is with us from the end of winter to the end of summer. They are rather small and eat earthworms and other small species \u2013 but are no strangers to raiding platters in outdoor caf\u00e9s and al fresco barbecue tables.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>herring gull <\/strong>(<em>Larus argentatus<\/em>) is a bigger and altogether more aggressive predator. They are the most likely to snatch your hot dog and represent a constant danger to any barbecue party. Chicks of the common gull can also be on the menu, as can the city\u2019s park pigeons.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>great black-backed gull<\/strong> (<em>Larus marinus<\/em>) is represented in smaller numbers and is not often observed in downtown Troms\u00f8. However, there is a group on the roof of the hospital, some 3 km north of the city centre. Chances are, you will not see them in Troms\u00f8.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Arctic tern<\/strong> (<em>Sterna paradisaea<\/em>) is not strictly a seagull, but a near relative. Arrived from its long trek from Antarctica, it nests around the island of Troms\u00f8 and elsewhere. It can be very aggressive in the nesting season \u2013 dive-bombing your head to chase you away from their camouflaged chicks in their nests hidden in the ground vegetation. You are, however, more likely to meet it on a beach walk on the island of Troms\u00f8. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9649a0d9 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\"><div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-aktiviteter todo-activities todo-birdwatching todo-wildlifesafari facilities-groups season-autumn season-spring region-nordkapp malgrupper-nature-lover malgrupper-nature-specialist wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"image-top wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/aktiviteter\/gjesvaerstappan-by-the-north-cape-is-one-of-norways-biggest-birdcliffs\/\"><\/a>\n<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 52.5% 78.75%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-1-1 wp-block-t2-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1135\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/stappan_august-plakat_intern.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display=&#039;none&#039;;this.insertAdjacentHTML(&#039;afterend&#039;,&#039;&lt;div class=&quot;t2-post-featured-image__fallback&quot;&gt;G&lt;\/div&gt;&#039;);\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-image_top wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-theme\">Birdwatching<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Gjesv\u00e6rstappan by the North Cape is one of Norway&#8217;s biggest birdcliffs<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-subtitle\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-tag\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M192 96c-52.935 0-96 43.065-96 96s43.065 96 96 96 96-43.065 96-96-43.065-96-96-96zm0 160c-35.29 0-64-28.71-64-64s28.71-64 64-64 64 28.71 64 64-28.71 64-64 64zm0-256C85.961 0 0 85.961 0 192c0 77.413 26.97 99.031 172.268 309.67 9.534 13.772 29.929 13.774 39.465 0C357.03 291.031 384 269.413 384 192 384 85.961 298.039 0 192 0zm0 473.931C52.705 272.488 32 256.494 32 192c0-42.738 16.643-82.917 46.863-113.137S149.262 32 192 32s82.917 16.643 113.137 46.863S352 149.262 352 192c0 64.49-20.692 80.47-160 281.931z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tNordkapp\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-aktiviteter todo-attractions todo-hiking todo-hiking-trips todo-midnight-sun todo-natural-highlights facilities-family-friendly facilities-sustainability season-autumn season-summer region-tromso malgrupper-family-memorymaker malgrupper-local-insider malgrupper-nature-lover wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"image-top wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/aktiviteter\/climb-the-sherpa-steps-in-tromso\/\"><\/a>\n<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-1-1 wp-block-t2-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1281\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Mats-Hoel-Johannessen.JPG-3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display=&#039;none&#039;;this.insertAdjacentHTML(&#039;afterend&#039;,&#039;&lt;div class=&quot;t2-post-featured-image__fallback&quot;&gt;C&lt;\/div&gt;&#039;);\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-image_top wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-theme\">Hiking<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Climb the Sherpa steps in Troms\u00f8<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-subtitle\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-tag\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M192 96c-52.935 0-96 43.065-96 96s43.065 96 96 96 96-43.065 96-96-43.065-96-96-96zm0 160c-35.29 0-64-28.71-64-64s28.71-64 64-64 64 28.71 64 64-28.71 64-64 64zm0-256C85.961 0 0 85.961 0 192c0 77.413 26.97 99.031 172.268 309.67 9.534 13.772 29.929 13.774 39.465 0C357.03 291.031 384 269.413 384 192 384 85.961 298.039 0 192 0zm0 473.931C52.705 272.488 32 256.494 32 192c0-42.738 16.643-82.917 46.863-113.137S149.262 32 192 32s82.917 16.643 113.137 46.863S352 149.262 352 192c0 64.49-20.692 80.47-160 281.931z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tTroms\u00f8\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-aktiviteter todo-activities todo-birdwatching todo-photo todo-wildlifesafari season-spring season-summer region-vesteraalen malgrupper-nature-lover malgrupper-nature-specialist wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"image-top wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/aktiviteter\/bleiksoya-is-a-cone-in-the-ocean-full-of-birdlife\/\"><\/a>\n<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50.5% 62.268518518519%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-1-1 wp-block-t2-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1485\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/003450_Marten-Bril_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display=&#039;none&#039;;this.insertAdjacentHTML(&#039;afterend&#039;,&#039;&lt;div class=&quot;t2-post-featured-image__fallback&quot;&gt;B&lt;\/div&gt;&#039;);\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-image_top wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-theme\">Birdwatching<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Bleiks\u00f8ya is a cone in the ocean full of birdlife<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-subtitle\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-tag\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M192 96c-52.935 0-96 43.065-96 96s43.065 96 96 96 96-43.065 96-96-43.065-96-96-96zm0 160c-35.29 0-64-28.71-64-64s28.71-64 64-64 64 28.71 64 64-28.71 64-64 64zm0-256C85.961 0 0 85.961 0 192c0 77.413 26.97 99.031 172.268 309.67 9.534 13.772 29.929 13.774 39.465 0C357.03 291.031 384 269.413 384 192 384 85.961 298.039 0 192 0zm0 473.931C52.705 272.488 32 256.494 32 192c0-42.738 16.643-82.917 46.863-113.137S149.262 32 192 32s82.917 16.643 113.137 46.863S352 149.262 352 192c0 64.49-20.692 80.47-160 281.931z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tVester\u00e5len\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Living with seagulls in town<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The kittiwakes are not a problem for city walkers \u2013 local or visiting. You hardly see them outside the kittiwake hotels. &nbsp;However, common gulls and herring gulls are found everywhere in town from March to the early Autumn. They gather on <strong>rooftops <\/strong>on March, in April they copulate <strong>shamelessly <\/strong>on light poles \u2013 even on a Sunday. Brooding and hatching in May-June involve keeping unsuspecting by passers at bay with swooping attacks. When the chicks start walking about in July, they display a total lack of manners. Locals are ambiguous, rolling their eyes at the noise and droppings \u2013 but if a chick is caught in the rooftop snow guards \u2013 someone will invariably call the <strong>fire brigade<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Moments of harmony and conflict at a sausage stand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Siri Lier<\/strong> runs the <em>Raketten<\/em> (\u201cThe Space Rocket\u201d)\u2013 a bar and <strong>hot dog stand<\/strong> housed in a kiosk from 1919 at Troms\u00f8&#8217;s main square \u2013 attracting queues of visitors and locals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This involved living with seagulls. In the Troms\u00f8 version of <strong>gang-related crime<\/strong>, herring gulls keep an eye on the handing out of sausages from the surrounding buildings. Before you know it, a <strong>hit-and-run<\/strong> attack from the air has ruined your meal. Siri warns her guests to <strong>cover up<\/strong> the food, to be aware of <strong>the smallest person<\/strong> in the group \u2013 notably a child or a petite woman, to sit <strong>under a roof<\/strong> and to walk close to a wall when wandering about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Siri has also been following <strong>generations of seagulls <\/strong>in the same family. Sparrows inhabit the nearby birch trees, and she feeds a group of <strong>14 crows<\/strong> every day. Over time, their feathers have started to shine, and their gentle <strong>croaks <\/strong>suggest they like Siri. She can of course burst into a \u201cbad gull\u201d scolding to a particularly cheeky herring gull. But there is<strong> lots of love and no hate<\/strong>. As she says with a wink \u2013 who doesn\u2019t like a good sausage?<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-2\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Fiskeri-og-fangstmonumentet-i-Tromso-med-mase-pa-toppen.jpg\" data-size=\"1607x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Fiskeri-og-fangstmonumentet-i-Tromso-med-mase-pa-toppen-1371x2048.jpg\" alt=\"Fishermen and Trappers Monument on Troms\u00f8\u2019s main square has, since 1984, served generations of European herring gull as a shared resting place \u2013 and, at times, a place of\u2026 quiet relief \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Fiskeri-og-fangstmonumentet-i-Tromso-med-mase-pa-toppen.jpg\" data-caption=\"Fishermen and Trappers Monument on Troms\u00f8\u2019s main square has, since 1984, served generations of European herring gull as a shared resting place \u2013 and, at times, a place of\u2026 quiet relief \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gramake-i-sentrum-av-Tromso.jpg\" data-size=\"1350x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gramake-i-sentrum-av-Tromso-768x1365.jpg\" alt=\"A watchful European herring gull in Troms\u00f8\u2019s Inner Harbour, likely keeping in touch with its rooftop neighbours \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gramake-i-sentrum-av-Tromso.jpg\" data-caption=\"A watchful European herring gull in Troms\u00f8\u2019s Inner Harbour, likely keeping in touch with its rooftop neighbours \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: Fishermen and Trappers Monument on Troms\u00f8\u2019s main square has, since 1984, served generations of European herring gull as a shared resting place \u2013 and, at times, a place of\u2026 quiet relief \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: A watchful European herring gull in Troms\u00f8\u2019s Inner Harbour, likely keeping in touch with its rooftop neighbours \u00a9 Knut Hansvold \/ Arctic Norway<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9649a0d9 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\"><div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-activities todo-attractions todo-boat-tour todo-whales todo-whalesafari todo-wildlifesafari facilities-groups facilities-sustainable-travel season-autumn season-winter region-lyngenfjord region-tromso malgrupper-bucket-list-betty malgrupper-nature-lover malgrupper-nature-specialist wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/a-winter-journey-to-the-whales-off-tromso\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 49% 75%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/brim-whale-safari-skjervoey-60-768x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tTroms\u00f8\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>A Winter Journey to the Whales off Troms\u00f8<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tActivities\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-activities todo-attractions todo-birdwatching todo-midnight-sun todo-natural-highlights todo-wildlifesafari facilities-family-friendly season-summer region-helgeland malgrupper-local-insider malgrupper-nature-lover malgrupper-nature-specialist wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/lovund-is-the-puffin-island-on-helgeland\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 40.5% 33.035714285714%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Oppinordland-768x427.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tHelgeland\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Lovund is the puffin island<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tBirdwatching\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-attractions todo-natural-highlights region-varanger malgrupper-nature-lover malgrupper-nature-specialist wp-block-t2-featured-single-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/hornoya-is-norways-most-easterly-point-and-a-twitchers-dream\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Hurtigruta-v-horn\u00f8ya-1-768x576.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tVaranger\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Horn\u00f8ya is Norway&#8217;s most easterly point and a twitcher&#8217;s dream<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tAttractions\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"is-questions-closed wp-block-vnn-faq-group\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"vnn-faq__title\">About seagulls and kittiwakes in Troms\u00f8<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-faq\"><h3 class=\"vnn-faq__question\"><button type=\"button\">What is a kittiwake hotel in Troms\u00f8?<\/button><\/h3><p class=\"vnn-faq__answer\">A kittiwake hotel is a purpose-built nesting structure designed to give black-legged kittiwake a place to breed away from buildings in the city centre.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-faq\"><h3 class=\"vnn-faq__question\"><button type=\"button\">Why are kittiwake hotels being built?<\/button><\/h3><p class=\"vnn-faq__answer\">They help reduce conflict between birds and people by offering alternative nesting sites, while supporting a species in decline.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-faq\"><h3 class=\"vnn-faq__question\"><button type=\"button\">Are kittiwakes protected in Norway?<\/button><\/h3><p class=\"vnn-faq__answer\">Yes. Kittiwakes are a protected species in Norway, and their declining population makes conservation measures increasingly important.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-faq\"><h3 class=\"vnn-faq__question\"><button type=\"button\">Where can you see kittiwakes in Troms\u00f8?<\/button><\/h3><p class=\"vnn-faq__answer\">You can spot them on buildings in the city centre, at designated kittiwake hotels, and in nearby coastal areas during the breeding season.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-faq\"><h3 class=\"vnn-faq__question\"><button type=\"button\">Why do kittiwakes nest in Troms\u00f8?<\/button><\/h3><p class=\"vnn-faq__answer\">Black-legged kittiwake nest in Troms\u00f8 because buildings offer safe ledges similar to natural cliffs. Changes in ocean conditions, linked to rising sea temperatures, have made feeding less reliable, pushing some birds to seek new nesting sites in urban areas.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-faq\"><h3 class=\"vnn-faq__question\"><button type=\"button\">What gull species are found in Troms\u00f8?<\/button><\/h3><p class=\"vnn-faq__answer\">The main gull species in Troms\u00f8 are the European herring gull, Common gull and black-legged kittiwake.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About this article:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Nobody has all the answers to the urban kittiwake issue. And certainly not this article. However, I had some good talks with <strong>Tone Kristin Reiertsen<\/strong>, senior researcher and specialist on seabirds at the&nbsp; Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) in Troms\u00f8. She directed me on to <strong>Delphin Ruch\u00e9 <\/strong>\u2013 field biologist and manager of the company Rissa Citizen Science \u2013 working with environment issues. I was also tipped off about architect <strong>Kjeld Nash<\/strong>, and had a chat with him, the artist <strong>Lawrence Malstaff<\/strong> and <strong>Robert Menzoni Lund<\/strong> from the city of Troms\u00f8 about hotel building. These are but a few of many people in Troms\u00f8 who are dedicated to the protection of the urban kittiwakes in Troms\u00f8. &nbsp;The story is still unfolding. I was also happy to talk to Siri Lier about urban co-habitation with the other gull species in town. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"vnn__byline vnn-grid has-author has-date has-tags\"><div class=\"vnn__byline-meta\"><div class=\"vnn__byline-author\">Written by Knut Hansvold<\/div><div class=\"vnn__byline-date\">April 30, 2026<\/div><\/div><div class=\"vnn__byline-tags\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_se-og-gjore=birdwatching\" rel=\"tag\">Birdwatching<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_se-og-gjore=photo\" rel=\"tag\">Photo<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_se-og-gjore=wildlifesafari\" rel=\"tag\">Wildlife Safari<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_omrder=tromso\" rel=\"tag\">Troms\u00f8<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_sesonger=spring\" rel=\"tag\">Spring<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_sesonger=summer\" rel=\"tag\">Summer<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_fasiliteter=sustainability\" rel=\"tag\">Sustainability<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":33177,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_searchwp_excluded":"","vnn_header_layout":"featured","vnn_header_layout_image_id":33177,"vnn_header_layout_image_focal_point_x":0.55,"vnn_header_layout_image_focal_point_y":0.34,"vnn_header_layout_description":"","vnn_header_layout_url":"","vnn_header_layout_url_text":"","vnn_header_layout_photographer":"","vnn_header_layout_video_id":"","vnn_header_layout_yt_id":"","vnn_header_layout_vimeo_id":"","teft_location_geodata_lat":69.645148764805,"teft_location_geodata_lng":18.947572431001,"teft_cards_image_id":33178,"teft_cards_image_focal_point_x":0.52,"teft_cards_image_focal_point_y":0.44,"teft_cards_title":"","teft_cards_excerpt":"","footnotes":""},"todo":[89,94,90],"facilities":[5864],"season":[8,7],"region":[39],"malgrupper":[],"class_list":["post-16791","artikler","type-artikler","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","todo-birdwatching","todo-photo","todo-wildlifesafari","facilities-sustainability","season-spring","season-summer","region-tromso"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.5 (Yoast SEO v25.3.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Troms\u00f8\u2019s kittiwakes have their own hotels - Arctic Norway<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In Troms\u00f8, the little seagulls can check into sleek, modernist hotels. 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