Rathlin Island off the north of Northern Ireland is now free from feral ferrets that were harming its native seabirds. Conservationists say this is the first time these nonnative animals, which were domesticated from polecats some 2,000 years ago, have been completely eradicated from any island. Ferrets (Mustela furo) were introduced to Rathlin in the […]
Tag: puffins
Puffin numbers down by almost a quarter on Farne Islands, annual survey shows
A survey of puffins on the internationally important Farne Islands has shown a drop in numbers of almost a quarter. The National Trust which looks after the islands off the Northumberland coast said the long-term trend needed to be monitored and cautioned against interpreting it as a sudden population decline. The number of breeding pairs […]
An Iceland Community Rallies to Save Lost Baby Puffins
Light pollution confuses and disorients seabirds around the globe, luring them towards land — and potentially dangerous situations. In the Westman Islands off the southwest coast of Iceland, however, one community has banded together to save lost young puffins. Every spring, hundreds of thousands of Atlantic puffins come to the archipelago to breed. Mere meters […]
Exhausted Puffin Rescued After it was Found Stranded 100 Miles From Seaside Home
A stranded puffin has been rescued after being found more than a hundred miles away from its natural coastal habitat. The seabird was blown off course before landing in a garden in landlocked Hereford, England, where it was found by a concerned homeowner who took it to a veterinary office. It is believed the lost […]
Petition: Only Six Puffins Remain — Demand UK Action Before It’s Too Late
In Dorset, UK, there’s a stretch of land along the coast where Purbeck puffins used to nest for at least decades. But now, the puffins’ numbers are dropping so quickly, they could be gone within the next 15 years. Sign the petition to save them! As of now, volunteers and researchers have spotted only three […]
Grey seals, minke whales and bluefin tuna: is the North Sea bouncing back to its glory days?
From the outside, the Tunny Club looks like any other seaside fish and chip shop. A short walk from Scarborough harbour, only the photos of John Wayne and Errol Flynn on the wall betray the shop’s fleeting history as a global centre for big-game fishing. In the 1930s, film stars and the ultra-wealthy flocked to […]
Puffins on Canadian Island Facing Climate Challenges
The puffins on Machias Seal Island in Canada are experiencing significant changes as a result of rising ocean temperatures. This island, situated about 19 kilometers southwest of New Brunswick’s Grand Manan Island, serves as a critical sanctuary for seabirds, including around 8,600 breeding pairs of puffins. Dr. Heather Major, a marine biology professor at the […]