Here’s a detailed look at how recent storms have been affecting the UK’s Puffin population; an issue of growing concern for scientists, conservationists and birders alike.
In the past few weeks, a succession of strong Atlantic storms has battered the UK and neighbouring Atlantic coasts. These conditions have led to hundreds of Puffins washing up dead or struggling along UK and nearby coasts with a marked rise in reports of dead birds found on beaches from Cornwall and Devon to northeast England and Scotland.
Conservation groups, including the RSPB and BTO, describe the situation as a “seabird wreck”, a phenomenon where unusually large numbers of seabirds die in a short period, often after storms when feeding conditions become extreme and birds are exhausted or starved.
Recent data logged via BirdTrack show reports of at least 150 dead puffins along UK shores in early February, alongside other auk species such as Guillemot and Razorbill. True numbers are almost certainly higher, since many carcasses sink or remain undiscovered at sea.
The storm impacts are not confined to British shores. Across western France, Spain, and Portugal, thousands of seabirds have washed up dead or severely weakened after weeks of violent weather. On just one 2km beach in France, over 1,200 Puffins were reported. In the Channel Islands, although some local authorities are cautious not to link deaths to disease, Puffins and other seabirds have been found on beaches in weakened states, some rescued by wildlife rehabilitation centres.
One poignant example making national headlines was a Puffin washed ashore in Aberdeenshire during stormy weather; despite rescue efforts, the approximately 34-year-old bird later died, highlighting both the individual and species-level toll of harsh conditions.
Why storms hit Puffins so hard
Puffins are highly adapted seabirds that spend much of their lives out on the open ocean, diving for small fish like sandeels. But recent research and wildlife observations point to several reasons storms are particularly damaging:
- Feeding disruption
High winds and rough seas make it much harder for Puffins to locate and catch fish. Unlike calmer conditions, strong swells can scatter fish schools and force birds to expend extra energy for little reward; a dangerous combination during critical winter months. - Vulnerability during moulting
Puffins undergo a moulting period where they lose and regrow flight feathers, temporarily becoming flightless. During this time, they are especially susceptible to rough seas and storms, which may lead to exhaustion or drowning if they cannot rest or feed effectively. - Climate change influence
Scientists link increasing storm frequency and intensity to broader climate change trends. Warmer sea temperatures may also shift prey distributions away from traditional Puffin feeding grounds, compounding the stress from extreme weather. Storms that once might have been rare are now part of increasingly unpredictable winter weather patterns, raising concerns that these wrecks could become more common and severe over time.
Puffins already under pressure
It’s important to remember that these storm events are hitting a species already facing broader pressures in the UK:
- Puffins are listed as vulnerable due to long-term declines in many areas, including reduced food supply and poor breeding success.
- National censuses and surveys show declines in breeding pairs and chick survival at important colonies, such as the Farne Islands in Northumberland.
- UK seabird statistics put many species, including the Puffin, on the conservation Red List due to sustained population declines.
What scientists and conservationists are calling for
In response to this series of storm-related deaths, conservation organisations are pressing for:
- Urgent implementation of seabird conservation strategies already agreed by governments in England, Wales, and Scotland.
- Enhanced monitoring and rescue efforts, including public reporting schemes to capture data on washed-up birds.
- Broader action on climate mitigation to address the underlying causes of more frequent and intense storms.
While immediate storm effects are visible now, the long-term survival of puffins in the UK depends on coordinated conservation and climate action to bolster food supplies, protect key habitats, and reduce other human-linked stresses.
In conclusion
The recent spate of severe storms has dealt a sobering blow to Puffins and other seabirds across the UK and Europe. These events could have longer-term impacts on already vulnerable seabird populations and may foreshadow broader ecological stresses linked to climate change. As iconic and beloved symbols of the British coastline, Puffins face grave challenges not just from individual weather events, but from the shifting climatic backdrop that may make such events ever more common. The full impact on breeding success and future population trends, to be assessed in spring censuses, will be a critical barometer of their resilience in a changing world.
What to do if you find a dead Puffin
If you have found a dead bird do not touch or handle. In England, Scotland and Wales, you should use the online reporting system or call the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77). In Northern Ireland, you can use the DAERA online reporting system. If you know the species, please ALSO report dead wild birds on BirdTrack to help assess population impacts (BirdTrack | BTO – British Trust for Ornithology). This is very easily done on the BirdTrack mobile app. If you find a ringed bird, details of how to safely report it are on the BTO website.
References
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Hundreds_of_seabirds_found_dead_around_UK_coasts_after_winter_storms.aspx?utm
