Puffins on Skomer Island by Lynne Newton
Project Puffin
In 2012 and 2013 a collective of organisations including Manx Wildlife Trust and Manx National Heritage undertook a brown rat eradication programme on the Calf of Man. This was all a part of the Manx Shearwater Recovery Programme, and by 2014 it was already apparent that Manx Shearwaters were recovering and by 2021 a six-fold increase was recorded.
Brown Rat
Gillian Day
Manx Wildlife Trust saw the opportunities that a rodent free Island would have for ground-nesting species and species that nest in old rabbit burrows. Puffins last bred on the Island in 1987 and their decline was likely due to rat predation. At their recorded peak in 1979 there were 60 breeding pairs. The decline of the puffins and the arrival of brown rats were well documented; around 1790’s even the Duchess of Athol regretted their extermination on the Calf which was attributed to a shipwreck off the Calf bringing rats.
So the potential for Puffins exists now that the rodents are controlled. Encouraging the return of the Puffin to the Calf of Man was a mission we could achieve.
Puffling in burrow. The eggs of ground nesting birds are susceptible to predation as they are easy to access by species such as the brown rat.
Charles Thody Wildlife Images - Charles Thody Photography
The Deception
Puffins are, monogamous, site faithful, and social. We need to trick young birds into thinking that the Calf of Man is an active, successful breeding site. In 2016 100 decoy resin puffins were attached to rocks and cliff edges at two sites around the Island and speakers playing puffin calls were set up. Each year the puffins have been repaired and replaced, and the speaker systems maintained.
Dr Lara Howe, MWT's Marine Officer predicted it would take 5 or more years to work, as this is how long a fledgeling puffin takes to mature. The prediction was spot on.
A community of decoy puffins on the Calf of Man
The Breakthrough
In 2021 the first puffin was spotted snuggling up to one of the decoys and later with nesting material.. Manx National Heritage and MWT publicly announced ‘The Return of the Puffin’. The Calf wardens were kept busy in 2021 monitoring the site to establish if nesting did actually take place. Sadly not but the efforts continue.
The first nesting attempt is encouraging, but now comes the job of sustaining a long-term recovery.
The first puffin to be spotted on the Calf of Man in 40 years, having a good inspection of one of the decoys.
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