National Trust reports sharp fall in puffin breeding numbers
Saturday, 26 Jul 2008 11:26
Researchers were expecting an increase in the number of puffins breeding
The National Trust has reported a sharp fall in the number of puffins breeding in the UK.
Results of the trust's quarterly survey show a decrease of about a third in the number of breeding puffins. Researchers had anticipated an increase in the number of pairs expecting but instead noticed a drop from 55,674 pairs in 2003 to 36,500 pairs this year.
During the survey, wardens checked nests on eight islands off the Northumberland coast. They reported a fall in breeding pairs on all islands with four showing up to a 50 per cent fall.
National Trust head warden on the Farne Islands David Steel said: "The results from this survey have completely surprised us as we were predicting another rise in the numbers of breeding pairs.
"Stocks of sandeels, the staple food of puffins in the summer, are in good supply around the islands and there is a lack of ground predators creating a good environment for puffins to breed," he added.
Mr Steel said a fall in the number of animals surviving the winter could be a possible reason behind the fall in the number of chicks. He added that increased attention would be given to islands where sharp drops in the number of the species breeding had been noticed.