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These astounding puffin pictures are telling scientists something very important about the effect of climate change

22 September 2017

A puffin photograph is great addition to any wildlife photographer’s portfolio.

The temperature of the sea is rising and the sand eels that the puffins feed on don’t like the warmer sea temperatures. The puffins are finding it harder and harder to find them.
Richard Humpage

But the right shot also has a scientific value.

Throughout the summer of 2017, members of the public have been sending the RSPB thousands of photographs of puffins feeding in locations from as far south as the Channel Islands to Unst in the north of the Shetland Isles.

They show that diets vary significantly across the UK.

A lack of food means that puffin numbers have dropped to around 50-60% of what they were 25 years ago.

Richard Humpage of the RSPB told Landward that this was due to climate change.

This image, taken by Julie Graham, is part of the evidence that puffins are struggling to find their food of choice. “It’s starting to look like the puffins further north are eating fewer and smaller sand eels.”
Philip Hiles’ photograph shows a puffin with a sprat. “They tend to be on the big side for puffins. This is just too big for the youngsters ... they’ll always choose sand eels where they can.”
Puffins beaks, as captured in Alison Brown’s close up shot, are remarkable pieces of natural engineering. “[They] actually open in parallel, whereas most birds’ hinge open. But that’s the only way they can hold a whole beakful like that.”

More about Project Puffin

  • Landward

    Dougie and Nick Nairn begin a narrowboat trip along the Union Canal, while Euan McIlwraith grabs a camera and goes in search of our most loved seabird, the puffin. Arlene Stuart meets the woman battling to preserve rare breed pigs, and new presenter Anne Lundon asks if the North Coast 500 is a victim of its own success.

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