A count on the evening of Tuesday the 28th of March found 42,513 puffins on and around the island, up from 38,896 in 2022.
This nearly 10% increase in puffin population on Skomer bucks the trend of decline which is being observed in the species globally.
Puffins are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, citing ‘rapid declines across most of its European range,’ as the cause for concern.
These rainbow-billed birds are under threat due to the impacts of climate change, including increased sea surface temperatures, as well as associated shifts in prey.
A puffin’s diet largely consists of sand eels and herring, but warmer seas are causing mismatches between peak populations of these fish and puffin breeding seasons, which is leading to poor chick growth.
In addition to this, human factors such as overfishing are also having dire consequences for puffins.
Skomer Island is surrounded by an internationally important Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) which prohibits activities that could negatively affect the marine life there. This means that trawling, littering, and disturbing wildlife are illegal within the area.
As a result, marine life is abundant and the waters around Skomer are said to be some of the most biodiverse in the UK.
The absence of ground predators on Skomer is also a factor influencing the success of the puffins, meaning that they can safely breed in burrows, without the risk of their chick being predated on before it has had the opportunity to fledge.
Skomer really is a haven for wildlife, and the success of the puffins on the island are just one example of how a species can prosper despite all the odds.
We are proud to say that on Skomer our puffins aren’t just surviving but thriving.