‘Puffarazzi’ help scientists to CalMac appoints wildlife understand decline in puffins officer for West Coast ferries
THE RSPB’s Project Puffin has taken the first steps in solving the mystery of why some puffin colonies are in dramatic decline.
Scientists analysed more than 1,400 photographs sent in by the public – or the ‘paffarazzi’, as they were called.
More than a third of the photos came from Scottish puffin colonies.
This helped them to build a better picture of what these seabirds are feeding their chicks. raditionally, puffins feed on a mixture of fish, with sand-eels making up a high proportion of their diet.
The photos from puffin colonies in north-west Scotland show that sand-eels are making up about half of their diet compared to the two-thirds at colonies in southern Scotland, northern England and Wales.
The pictures have helped scientists identify areas where puffins are struggling to find the large, nutritious fish needed to support their chicks.
Early results suggest that the diet of puffins vary significantly around the UK.
In the northern isles of Orkney and Shetland, where serious puffin declines have been seen, they appear to be consistently finding smaller prey compared to most other colonies.
To find out more, visit www. rspb.org.uk/projectpuffin. CALMAC has seconded a full-time wildlife officer to help educate crew and passengers about marine life.
Andy Gilbert will take up the roll in 2018, working as a conservation expert across the ferry operator’s West Coast fleet.
The project will be a collaboration between CalMac and wildlife charity Orca.
Orca is a UK whale and dolphin conservation charity dedicated to the long-term protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Andy has spent decades pursuing his passion for wildlife and conservation, first as a volunteer, and most recently as an Orca wildlife officer in both the Bay of Biscay and in the Hebrides aboard the MV Loch Nevis.
‘The opportunity to spend 2018 working in the Hebrides and helping deliver the Orca wildlife officer programme, in partnership with CalMac, is an exciting next step in my career,’ he said. ‘I can’t wait to start helping to spread the message about marine conservation across the network of routes.
‘The more we learn about the diversity of what lives in our seas, the greater understanding we will have about how to conserve it for future generations.’
CalMac environmental manager Klare Chamberlain, added: ‘The survey shows that the waters we sail have some of the most abundant marine mammals in the UK and we have a duty to do what we can to help protect them.
‘We’re really looking forward to working with Andy to help raise awareness of the terrific diversity of wildlife we are privileged to work alongside every day.’