In a significant victory for conservation, puffins have been discovered nesting on a County Antrim nature reserve for the first time in a quarter of a century.
The exciting find was made by the charity Ulster Wildlife on the Isle of Muck, located off Islandmagee. This development is being celebrated as a major milestone in the recovery of these vulnerable seabirds within Northern Ireland.
A Conservation Success Story
This remarkable comeback is the direct result of a dedicated seabird recovery project initiated by Ulster Wildlife in 2017. The primary goal was to tackle the biggest threat to seabird eggs and chicks: invasive brown rats.
A successful rat eradication programme was implemented, alongside a strategy of winter grazing to keep vegetation low, thereby reducing cover for the rodents. The charity emphasises that rats pose a major problem for many seabird colonies across the UK, and similar eradication efforts elsewhere have proven vital for protecting breeding sites.
Signs of Recovery and a Breakthrough
Positive signs at the Isle of Muck have been building for some time. Annual surveys began to document steady increases in other bird species, including eider ducks, guillemots, and various gulls.
The project saw a significant breakthrough in 2024 when five puffins were spotted prospecting the island. Then, this summer, the confirmation came: two puffins were caught on camera emerging from a nesting burrow on the grassy cliff ledges. This is a positive indicator that the birds are breeding.
Andy Crory, Nature Reserves Manager with Ulster Wildlife, shared his enthusiasm: "For decades, there had been whispers that puffins once bred on the Isle of Muck, a story that felt more like folklore than fact. But now, thanks to years of hard work creating a safe haven for thousands of seabirds, that myth is becoming a reality."
He highlighted the global challenges seabirds face, with 24 of the 25 breeding species at risk of extinction. "So, while a handful of puffins on a tiny island may seem small, this moment is huge – it proves that seabird restoration works," Crory added.
Looking to the Future
The hope is that the Isle of Muck will evolve into a thriving stronghold for puffins and may eventually attract other lost species, such as the Manx shearwater. The team is now eagerly awaiting next summer to see if the first 'pufflings' – baby puffins – appear on the cliffs.
The ongoing rat eradication and species monitoring work at the Isle of Muck Nature Reserve is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs via the Carrier Bag Levy.
It is crucial to note that the Isle of Muck Nature Reserve is not accessible to the public. Ulster Wildlife has issued a warning that crossing the tidal tombolo when it is visible at low tide is extremely dangerous. The charity is urging people to admire the island from a safe distance to give the returning puffins the best possible chance to settle and breed successfully.
