Numbers of puffins at one of the UK’s largest colonies have increased by around a third since 2017.
NatureScot and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) have completed a count of burrows on the Isle of May National Nature Reserve (NNR) in the Firth of Forth, a protected and internationally important habitat for seabirds.
Based on their all-island count this summer, scientists estimate there are around 52,000 occupied puffin burrows, compared to 39,000 in the last survey in 2017 – a 33% increase.
However, Mark Newell, UKCEH’s field manager on the Isle of May, warns this figure may mask a recent decline in the species. Scientists remain concerned about the ongoing impact of food supplies and climate change on populations.
Mr Newell explains: “This increase in numbers of puffins came as a bit of a surprise to us. Each year we follow a small colony of birds that are fitted with coloured identification rings, and the number we have seen has been below average in the last two years.
“There was a period of high breeding success and survival for more than 10 years prior to this, and we believe that the population increased substantially after the 2017 count.”
NatureScot’s Isle of May NNR is home to around 100,000 puffins as well as tens of thousands of other birds including shags, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes.
David Steel, NatureScot’s Isle of May National Nature Reserve manager, said: “People come from all over the world to see the iconic Isle of May puffins so it’s fantastic news the population of these brilliant and hardy birds has increased.
“Seabirds across the UK are facing multiple challenges, including marine heatwaves, climate change and of course in recent years for some species, bird flu, so we’re delighted with this news. We will be monitoring these birds closely as the summer progresses and hope they continue to have a good year.”
UKCEH has been monitoring colonies on the Isle of May for 50 years, and its long-term research has shown that species have struggled with the impacts of climate change.
Rising ocean temperatures can reduce the availability of puffins’ food sources, particularly sandeels, which affects their survival rates and ability to produce offspring. In addition, periods of heavy storms in recent years have killed large numbers of birds.
There is no evidence that bird flu has been a problem with puffins on the Isle of May.
Field workers at UKCEH and NatureScot carried out the count by sweeping back and forth across the whole island counting each hole in the ground and assessing whether it is excavated by a puffin or rabbit. A sample of plots are then checked carefully to determine whether they are currently occupied by puffins and this correction factor is applied to the whole island count.
- Ends –
Puffin facts
- Puffins’ offspring are known as pufflings.
- The young spend their first three years of life entirely at sea.
- Puffins spend winters out at sea, with members of the Isle of May colony remaining in the North Sea or going west of Scotland into the Atlantic.
- Females lay a single egg during the breeding season, using the same burrow every year.
- The birds begin breeding at around five years old and mate for life.
- Puffins live to around 20 years old, with the oldest recorded as living to 42 (on the Isle of Canna).
- Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) are found around the UK, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Canada. They are related to the tufted and horned puffins found in the northeastern Pacific.
- Puffins are part of the auk family, which also include guillemots and razorbills
Media enquiries
Photos of puffins on the Isle of May are available on request. For interviews and further information, please contact Simon Williams, Media Relations Officer at UKCEH, via simwil@ceh.ac.uk or +44 (0)7920 295384.
About the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is a world-leading centre for excellence in environmental sciences across water, land and air. We identify key drivers of biodiversity change, develop tools and technologies for monitoring biodiversity, and provide robust socio-economic and environmental solutions for restoring biodiversity.
The Isle of May Long-Term Study forms part of UKCEH’s network of long-term monitoring sites for detecting effects of environmental change.
The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is a strategic delivery partner for the Natural Environment Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.
www.ceh.ac.uk / @UK_CEH / LinkedIn: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology