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Puffin Numbers Plunge on Isle of May
Developing
In Short: Puffin populations on the Isle of May have sharply declined, prompting concerns about the impact of extreme weather and food supply issues.
Puffin numbers on the Isle of May have significantly dropped, according to the reserve's manager, David Steel. This decline mirrors a similar trend observed in the early 2000s, before the population recovered in the 2010s.
Steel attributes the current decrease to ongoing pressures on seabird food supplies, poor winter survival rates, and increasingly extreme weather conditions. Mark Newell, UKCEH's field manager on the Isle of May, expresses concern that future extreme weather events could further impact the breeding ability of puffins and other species.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- Single-source account; further confirmation still arriving.
Sources
- BBClink