Pufflings rescued from town adventure
TWO young puffins have been rescued from North Berwick – and residents are now being asked to keep an eye out for more of the birds.
This season’s baby puffins – known as pufflings – are now leaving their burrows on islands off the county coast for the open sea, but two recently became disorientated by the bright lights and had to be rescued from North Berwick Harbour.
After fledging during the night, one was found behind a plant pot last Wednesday.
The Scottish Seabird Centre, based in the town, is now calling on residents and visitors to East Lothian to keep an eye out in a bid to help the endangered puffin population, which is categorised as globally vulnerable and declining in numbers.
In July and August every year, pufflings leave their burrows on the Isle of May and other islands in the Firth of Forth. Once on land, they will seek out somewhere dark to hide from predators, often underneath cars or behind bins and under plants.
The baby birds look different from their adult counterparts – they are
shades of grey, white and black, and their smaller beaks don’t have the characteristic bright colours that the adults have in summer.
Emily Burton, Scottish Seabird Centre conservation officer, said: “When we’re notified of their misadventures, we carefully collect the pufflings and take them out to sea to release them well away from the mainland and any predators.
“They then typically head off into
the North Sea, where they will live for the next three years.
“There are around 5,000 apparently occupied puffin burrows on Craigleith Island and an incredible 52,000 occupied puffin burrows estimated on the Isle of May, with two adults and one puffling for each successful nest.
“With so many puffins breeding locally, it’s not surprising that a few pufflings may make a wrong turn when they leave their burrows to fledge.”
The Scottish Seabird Centre asks that dog owners keep their pets under close control when at the coast to avoid them harming recently fledged seabird chicks.
They are appealing for people to be extra vigilant over the next few weeks and, if they spot a puffling, to immediately alert the Scottish SPCA on 03000 999 999.