Boaters Urged To Watch Out For Puffins

Reminders have been issued to boat owners and jet skiers to ensure they do not to exceed the six knot speed limit and disturb the area during the iconic sea birds breeding season.

A population of Puffins return to Herm Island's cliffs each year to raise their offspring.

The small birds return to the same nest every year to lay one single egg and take turns between the male and female to incubate it.

Once the egg has hatched, both parents leave the Puffling chick in its nest to go and search for Sandeels to eat. The parents then return to their burrows at night.

Although in recent years, the Puffin population has seen some disruption.

Increased storm conditions in 2014 became known as the ‘seabird wreck’, which saw Atlantic Puffin's mortality rate being the worst affected locally.

Survey data collected voluntarily by the local Seabird Monitoring Team showed an unsurprising decline in Puffin numbers in 2015.

To help preserve the surviving population, the Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services has put out yearly reminders since 2017 to ensure boaters give the south east and surrounding areas of Herm near Puffin Bay suitable berth, as Puffins are often resting on the waves there.

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