New study of Scottish puffins to help save species from extinction
● Birds will be tagged and tracked via satellite to find out feeding habits
Some of Scotland’s best loved but most threatened seabirds are set to benefit from a new project that aims to help save them from global extinction.
Puffins at two Scottish sites will be fitted with satellite tags in an effort to discover more about what they eat, where they go and what they feed their chicks.
Scotland is internationally important for the species, with more than 80 per cent of the total UK and Irish population. Key nesting sites are in the Firth of Forth and the Shetland and Orkney islands.
But numbers have shown a rapid decline in recent years, thought to be driven by a combination of factors – including climate change and pollution.
The species has been declared vulnerable to global extinction, with experts warning up to fourth fifths of the birds could be lost in the next 50 years.
Now conservation charity RSPB Scotland has been awarded nearly £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a new study that will include satellite tagging and extensive surveys.
Members of the public are also being invited to help out as “citizen scientists” by sending in photographs of puffins feeding. It’s hoped the work will help guide efforts to save the species from extinction.
“Puffins are wonderful birds that are in desperate need of help to ensure the long-term survival of the species here,” said Ellie Owen, who heads up the RSPB’S seabird tracking work in the UK.
“It’s devastating to think that our coastlines may no longer be brightened up by these birds coming into land furiously flapping their wings with their orange legs outstretched.
“RSPB Scotland is doing all it can to conserve this species and this project is crucial to our ongoing effort to turn puffin fortunes around.”