Puffins back at North Berwick stronghold

Puffins have returned to their breeding islands in the Firth of Forth, the Scottish Seabird Centre has announced. The birds can be seen at the conservation charity’s North Berwick-based Discovery Centre.

The Isle of May in the Firth of Forth is home to biggest Puffin colony on the east coast of Britain, with some 90,000 birds present there between April and early August. The islands of Craigleith and Fidra are part of the Seabird Centre’s SOS Puffin Project. The former island’s previous colony of 10,000 pairs crashed to fewer than 1,000 due to a giant invasive plant known as Tree Mallow.

Puffin off Craigleith Island, North Berwick (Photo: Phil Wilkinson).

As part of SOS Puffin Project, more than 280 work parties made regular trips out to Craigleith and neighbouring Fidra over 10 years to cut down the Tree Mallow. Monitoring has shown that the natural vegetation is recovering and the Puffins are able to nest without interference.

One of our most recognisable bird species, Puffin is listed as Vulnerable globally by BirdLife International and is Red-listed as a Bird of Conservation Concern in the UK. As with many seabirds, the species is at significant risk from a wide range of threats including climate change, lack of food, pollution and marine litter.

Alex Turnbull, Discovery Centre Manager, said: “With the Firth of Forth being home to tens of thousands of Puffins between April and early August and with the Isle of May being the largest colony on the east coast of Britain, North Berwick is the ideal location for Puffin spotting and to appreciate and learn about these wonderful birds.”

The Puffins can be seen via special interactive cameras at the Discovery Centre or from boat trips; click here for more details.