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Atlantic Puffins In Decline

July 26, 2008

There has been an alarming decrease in the population of Atlantic Puffins on the Farne Islands (Northumberland) this summer, with a comprehensive survey revealing the presence of just over 36,000 breeding pairs on the islands. This figure is down from 57,000, a reduction of nearly 37%.

There could be two factors influencing this dramatic fall in numbers of this endearing seabird -:

a) the fact that pairs are finding it increasingly difficult to find food in the North Sea, particularly Sandeels and small fish, at critical times during the breeding season

b) increasing winter storms associated with climate change preventing birds from feeding for lengthy periods and ultimately ending in the demise of many first-year birds and a proportion of adults

Atlantic Puffins have also shown decreases in other parts of the country, particularly in Wales, where the population at South Stack RSPB (Anglesey) for example is now almost extinct. Populations in Shetland and Orkney have also been affected.

In Norway, where the Rost population declined by 68% between 1969 and 1988, this was mainly due to a long run of breeding failures culminating from a dramatic decline in Herring populations, most likely due to overfishing (Anker-Nilssen 1987, Harris 1984).

The most recent population estimates for Atlantic Puffin were in the region of 550,000 breeding pairs in Britain (out of a total world population of possibly up to 4 million), with Iceland and Norway sharing the largest populations.

Those from the east coast of Britain winter largely in the North Sea whilst those from elsewhere disperse widely at very low densities over vast areas of ocean in the west Mediterranean sea area.

Written by Lee · Filed Under UK News 

















































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