Popular puffins need sea change to thrive

What is your favourite wild bird? Top of the flocks in a non-scientific poll by the RSPB was the robin, thanks no doubt to its willingness to approach humans (so it is dubbed “the gardener’s friend”) and its long standing as the poster bird for Christmas.

In second to fifth places were the wren, kingfisher, long-tailed tit and goldfinch, in that order. At number six in the popularity stakes – and our most popular seabird – was the puffin.

The RSPB said: “With their colourful bills and doleful eyes, it’s no wonder these clowns of the sea have made it into the top ten.”

But despite puffins being one of our most-loved birds, research from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) sadly predicts that puffins in Britain and Ireland will likely decline significantly by 2050, as the result of future changes to the climate.

Puffins are one of ten seabird species predicted to suffer long-term effects on their populations, as warming air and sea temperatures reduce food availability and drive extreme weather events.

One of the greatest concerns for BTO scientists is the decline in sand eels, which are a major food source for many adult, and especially young, seabirds.

The lack of these fish in nearby waters during the breeding season has resulted in poor productivity, as the adults fail to find enough food for their growing chicks. Over-fishing and changes in climate are significant drivers in the loss of the sand eels, particularly in the North Sea.

An increase in extreme winter storms, exacerbated by climate change, has also resulted in high mortality of puffins and other seabirds.

A new book published last month, The Puffin: A Biography, written by renowned naturalist and best-selling author Stephen Moss, takes a deep dive into the world of this ever-popular seabird.

Stephen said: “The puffin is a real paradox: it rivals the robin as Britain’s best-loved bird, yet most people have never seen one in the flesh. In spring and summer they gather in large, noisy colonies to breed, but spend the autumn and winter far out to sea in the North Atlantic.

“And despite their small size, and gentle, clown-like appearance, puffins will fight to save their precious catch of sand eels from being seized by an opportunistic – and much larger – skua or gull.”

His book follows the lifecycle of the puffin throughout a calendar year: from eggs to chicks (they are adorably named “pufflings”) to the adult bird’s courtship, breeding and feeding habits. It also examines the bird’s place in popular and literary culture.

I haven’t read the book myself, but am assured it also deals with the many threats facing this beloved bird and considers its uncertain future.

But all is not lost: many organisations are working hard to understand the many threats these birds face, and to address their declines. Positive steps also include the banning of fishing for sand eels in Scottish and North Sea waters since 2024, which aims to help the recovery of this vital food-chain fish.

Nina O’Hanlon, senior research ecologist at BTO, said: “There are several fantastic projects working to change the fortunes of puffins across the UK, from habitat management to removing non-native invasive predators.

“Monitoring puffin numbers and breeding success is key to see how effective these actions are in increasing the resilience of this iconic seabird in the face of climate change.”

Puffins are iconic British birds. Let’s hope their challenges can be overcome.