Effects of cleaning a tidal river of sewage on gull numbers: a before-and-after study of the River Tyne, northeast England

Abstract

For most of the 20th century, the tidal reaches of the River Tyne in northeast England were used as an open sewer for organic wastes from almost a million people. This produced anaerobic conditions in the river, but supplied an appreciable source of food for five species of gulls. Observations on the number of gulls using the river were made in 1969/70 to establish the situation before a sewage treatment scheme was implemented. By 1994, the volume of untreated sewage discharged into the river had been reduced by 97% and by 86% in the study area, and a second survey was carried out to evaluate the effect of the clean-up on gull numbers. Overall, gull numbers showed a significant decrease of 37% between the two study periods. The decrease in winter was 38% and was also significant, while the decline in summer was 33%, but not significant. Considering individual species, numbers of Common and Great Black-backed Gulls declined by 93% and 91% respectively. In both these cases this is presumed to be due to the decline in available food. Black-headed Gull numbers did not change significantly and it appears they have been able to find alternative feeding sites such as mud flats exposed at low tide and the outfall where treated effluent is discharged. Numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Kittiwakes rose dramatically as a result of increases in breeding numbers in the area. Neither species feeds along the river. Numbers of Herring Gulls did not change significantly — it is likely that the effect of the decline in food availability was masked by the increase in breeding numbers in towns along the river banks. The different response of each of the species of gulls indicates the differences in their ecology and breeding status in the area.