Record puffin count on small Welsh island for second year running
Summary
A small island off the coast of Wales, Skomer Island, has seen a record number of puffins for the second year in a row, with 52,019 puffins counted this year. This increase is notable because puffin populations are generally declining in many other areas.Key Facts
- Skomer Island is 2.92 square kilometers and lies about a mile off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales.
- The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) counted 52,019 puffins on the island this year, 8,000 more than in 2025.
- Skomer Island provides a safe place for seabirds because it is isolated and free from predators and people.
- Besides puffins, the island is home to 350,000 breeding pairs of manx shearwaters and many guillemots and razorbills.
- The puffin count is done annually with a method used since the 1980s, allowing scientists to track population changes over 40 years.
- Puffins are declining in many parts of the UK, but Skomer’s numbers are growing, which is unusual.
- Monitoring seabird populations helps detect problems early, such as threats from pollution, disease, or habitat change.
- Skomer Island has no shops or permanent residents; seasonal staff live there to manage and protect the wildlife.
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