The puffin population on the Farne Islands, off the coast of Northumberland, has been declared stable despite initial concerns that bird flu might have caused significant harm.

A recent full census, the first in five years, revealed a 15% increase in the endangered species since 2019, with an estimated 50,000 breeding pairs now residing on the islands, which are managed by the National Trust.

Ranger Sophia Jackson credited the puffins’ self-isolating behaviours for helping them withstand the avian flu outbreak.

Ms Jackson said: “Puffins nest in separate burrows and clean them out.

“In that way, the disease is less likely to spread as fast as it does through the other seabirds, which is why we saw a decline in them.”

However, the census also uncovered that fewer puffins were nesting on the outer islands. Experts believe this is due to stormy weather that forced grey seals to move higher into puffin nesting areas, leading to the collapse of some burrows.

The findings will be added to the national Seabird Monitoring Programme and were gathered by rangers after six weeks of fieldwork. This involved closely examining burrows for signs of activity, such as fresh digging or hatched eggshells.

Earlier this week, five additional seabird species were added to the UK’s red list of birds requiring urgent conservation efforts. Puffins were already on this list.

During the bird flu outbreak in 2022 and 2023, approximately 10,000 birds on the Farne Islands died, including more than 900 puffins. Conservationists were unable to conduct a full census during the pandemic and bird flu periods.

Ranger Tom Hendry noted that while puffin numbers remain steady, other seabirds, particularly cliff-nesting shags, are struggling, with a 75% population decline on the inner islands.

“To us, it looks like they may have had a productive breeding season,” he said.

“So with any luck, next year’s count will show that like the puffins, they too have stabilised.”

Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation at the National Trust, emphasised the importance of long-term monitoring.

“The Farne Islands will be an important bellwether for how they’re doing in the face of our changing climate,” he said.

Local rangers are working to make the habitat as welcoming as possible for puffins next year.

Ms Jackson added: “It’s hard work but you’re their guardians and you do become attached to them, every single one.”

 

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