Puffin Protectors

They call themselves “puffineers.” This group of intrepid researchers trekked to the northernmost point of Scotland last May to count puffins. Their goal: to see how the puffin populations are doing in the face of climate change.

After years of being a species of least concern, puffins were upgraded to vulnerable in 2015—the first step on the way to an endangered species. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds estimates that puffin numbers across the U.K. and Europe have plummeted in recent years.  

They call themselves “puffineers.” This group of adventurous researchers traveled to the northernmost point of Scotland last May to count puffins. Their goal: to see how the puffin populations are doing in the face of climate change.

Puffins were classified as a vulnerable species in 2015. That means puffins face threats that could cause them to go extinct. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds keeps track of bird populations. It estimates that the number of puffins across the U.K. and Europe has fallen in recent years.

But no one really knows for sure how much puffin numbers have decreased. The last full census of seabirds in the U.K. was in 2000. There have been occasional counts since then, but nothing that paints a clear picture of puffin health.

Enter the puffineers, who are part of the Project Puffin (UK), supported by Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland. It brings together on-the-ground researchers, technology like GPS trackers, and citizen scientists to understand the threats puffins face. “It’s a big fact-finding mission,” says Georgia Longmoor. She’s one of this summer’s puffineers and a Ph.D. student studying animal communication at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

But no one knows exactly how much puffin numbers have dropped. The last full census, or count, of seabirds in the U.K. was in 2000. Occasional partial counts have been taken since then. But there’s no clear picture of puffin health.

Enter the puffineers. They’re part of Project Puffin (UK). It brings together on-the-ground researchers, technology like GPS trackers, and citizen scientists. They want to understand what threatens puffins. “It’s a big fact-finding mission,” says Georgia Longmoor. She’s one of last summer’s puffineers. She’s also a Ph.D. student studying animal communication at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.    

The Atlantic puffin is one of the most recognizable seabirds on the planet. Because of their black-and-white feathers, they look a lot like penguins, but their bright-orange beaks set them apart. The birds are only 10 inches tall and spend their lives at sea. They come to land in the spring to breed. Puffins make their nests along the shores of the North Atlantic—from Northern Europe to Maine.

Getting to the puffins isn’t easy. Starting from Aberdeen, Scotland, the puffineers took an overnight ferry to reach the Shetland Islands. The chain of islands is about 200 miles to the north of mainland Scotland and is a key breeding ground for puffins.

The Atlantic puffin is one of the most recognizable seabirds on the planet. They look a lot like penguins because of their black-and-white feathers. But their bright-orange beaks set them apart. The birds are only 10 inches tall and spend their lives at sea. They come to land in the spring to breed. Puffins make their nests along the shores of the North Atlantic, from Northern Europe to Maine.

Getting to the puffins isn’t easy. The puffineers started in Aberdeen, Scotland. They took an overnight ferry to reach the Shetland Islands. The chain of islands is about 200 miles to the north of mainland Scotland. It’s a key breeding ground for puffins.

The team stayed in small cabins called böds to be close to the puffin colonies. Every day, they trekked across craggy highlands to reach the 31 different nesting sites they studied. Tallying puffins requires stamina and speed. The puffineers had to keep track of the different birds walking on land, wheeling—flying in big loops in the sky—and diving for fish out at sea.

Sometimes the puffineers got close to the birds without even trying. “They’re really sociable,” Longmoor says. “We’re trying to keep our distance, but they’d just walk up to us.” 

The initial puffin count took place over 18 days in May 2017, while the birds were mating. The puffineers returned in June, just after the babies had hatched. Puffins mate for life and hatch only one egg at a time.

The team stayed in small cabins called böds to be close to the puffin colonies. They trekked across rough highlands to reach the 31 different nesting sites they studied. Counting puffins requires stamina and speed. The puffineers had to keep track of the different birds on land, in the sky, and out at sea.

Sometimes the puffineers got close to the birds without even trying. They’re very friendly birds. “We’re trying to keep our distance, but they’d just walk up to us,” says Longmoor.

The initial puffin count took place over 18 days in May 2017. This was during their mating season. The puffineers returned in June, just after the babies had hatched. Puffins mate for life and hatch only one egg at a time.

But those two visits weren’t enough. Project Puffin also asked citizen scientists to help out. The volunteer “puffarazzi” across the U.K. took pictures of puffins with fish in their beaks. People sent in more than 1,400 photos.

Understanding what the birds are eating is key to their survival. Scientists think their numbers are decreasing because of warming seas due to climate change. The warmer ocean temperatures could be affecting the number and types of fish available for puffins. In the U.K. they mostly eat sand eels, which are small 5-inch-long fish. But puffins sometimes also chow down on cod, herring, and squid. 

The decline in puffins isn’t just a problem in Scotland. Other colonies in Europe and across the Atlantic in Maine have also been shrinking. In some cases, fewer chicks are surviving. In Maine, some puffins have tried feeding their chicks butterfish, but the fish are too big for the tiny birds to swallow and some simply starve.

But those two visits weren’t enough. Project Puffin also asked citizen scientists to help out. They called the volunteers “puffarazzi.” People across the U.K. took pictures of puffins with fish in their beaks. Project Puffin received more than 1,400 photos.

Understanding what the birds are eating is key to their survival. Scientists think the puffin population is falling because of climate change. The warmer ocean temperatures could be affecting what food is available to puffins. The warmer water might change the number and type of fish puffins can find to eat. In the U.K. they mostly eat small 5-inch long fish called sand eels. But puffins sometimes also chow down on cod, herring, and squid.

The decline in puffins isn’t just a problem in Scotland. Other colonies of puffins in Europe and across the Atlantic in Maine have also been shrinking. One problem is that fewer chicks are surviving. In Maine, some puffins have tried feeding their hungry chicks butterfish. These fish are too big for the tiny birds to swallow. Some chicks simply starve. 

Puffins are just one of the 24 seabird species that could be in danger of extinction if the oceans keep warming. Researchers across the globe are trying to understand how each species will be affected.

In the U.K., Project Puffin’s results from the census in the Shetland Islands will be combined with other data, such as a recent survey of how four other seabird species spend their time at sea. Together, this information will help scientists create an action plan to protect all of the U.K.’s seabirds and their feeding grounds. 

“Now is the time to protect the places these birds catch the fish they feed to their hungry chicks,” says Ewan Wakefield, a scientist at the University of Glasgow. “This will secure the fate of future generations of these amazing creatures.”

Puffins are one of 24 seabird species threatened by warming oceans. Researchers across the globe are trying to understand how each species will be affected.

Project Puffin is just one survey being done. Another survey in the U.K. studied how four other seabird species spent their time at sea. Scientists will combine the results from multiple surveys. They can use this information to protect all of the U.K.’s seabirds and their food sources. 

"We need to protect the places where seabirds get fish," says Ewan Wakefield. He’s a scientist at the University of Glasgow. “This will secure the fate of future generations of these amazing creatures.”