PUFFINS HOLDING THEIR OWN IN THE FARNE ISLANDS

Farne Island puffins (photo: National Trust)

FEARS that increased grey seal numbers could be reducing the puffin population in the Farne Islands seem to be misplaced.

Rangers were concerned that the weight of the seals could be crushing the birds’ nesting burrows and eroding surrounding vegetation.

During 2018, no fewer than 43,596 puffin pairs were counted - a nine per cent increase on the last survey in 2013.

Although the number is well down from the 2003 peak of 55,674 pairs. it is encouraging - especially given the widespread decline along other parts of the UK coastline.

Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the Farnes achieving National Nature Reserve status. 

This designation helps to protect significant areas of nature habitats and opens up opportunities for funding as well as providing resource for research into puffin populations. 

Up until last year, counts were every five years but the National Trust has resolved to conduct them annually as of this year. 

National Trust ranger Harriet Reid says: "Annual monitoring will help us track numbers against likely causes of population change, whether that's changes to the weather as a result of climate change, changes in the sand eel population or something else altogether.

"'If the root causes of puffin decline are what we suspect, it will require a bigger effort to encourage everyone to think about how we can prevent overfishing, reduce our use of single-use plastic and limit our use of non-renewable energy, but it can be done."