In a landmark moment for wildlife conservation in Northern Ireland, Atlantic puffins have been confirmed to be nesting on the Isle of Muck for the first time in a quarter of a century.
The significant discovery was made by the nature conservation charity Ulster Wildlife and signals a major step forward for the recovery of these vulnerable seabirds.
A Decades-Long Absence Reversed
The return of the puffins is the direct result of a dedicated seabird recovery project launched by Ulster Wildlife in 2017. The project's primary focus was the eradication of invasive brown rats from the small island, which is located off Islandmagee in County Antrim.
These rats pose a severe threat to ground-nesting seabirds by preying on their eggs and chicks. Complementing the rat removal, a programme of winter grazing was introduced to keep vegetation low, thereby reducing cover for any potential rodent predators.
Similar eradication efforts have been crucial for safeguarding breeding sites across the UK, and signs of recovery on the Isle of Muck have been building for some time. Annual surveys have shown consistent population increases for other seabirds, including eider ducks, guillemots, herring gulls, and lesser-backed gulls.
The Path to a Breeding Breakthrough
The pivotal moment for the puffins came in 2024, when five of the distinctive birds were spotted prospecting the island for suitable nesting sites.
This summer, the project celebrated its ultimate success when two puffins were captured on camera emerging from a nesting burrow on the island's grassy cliff ledges. This provided definitive proof that the birds are now breeding on the island once more.
Andy Crory, Nature Reserves Manager with Ulster Wildlife, expressed his elation. "For decades, there had been whispers that puffins once bred on the Isle of Muck, a story that felt more like folklore than fact," he said. "But now, thanks to years of hard work creating a safe haven for thousands of seabirds, that myth is becoming a reality."
A Beacon of Hope for Vulnerable Seabirds
This achievement is particularly significant given the precarious state of seabirds globally. Mr Crory highlighted that 24 of the 25 breeding species are at risk of local or global extinction.
"So, while a handful of puffins on a tiny island may seem small, this moment is huge – it proves that seabird restoration works," he emphasised.
The hope is that the Isle of Muck will evolve into a thriving stronghold for puffins and may even attract other lost species, such as the Manx shearwater, back to its shores.
All attention now turns to next summer, with conservationists eagerly awaiting the potential appearance of the first 'pufflings' – baby puffins – which would be the ultimate reward for their efforts.
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, through the Carrier Bag Levy.
Ulster Wildlife has issued a stern warning that the reserve is not accessible to the public. Attempting to cross the tidal tombolo that appears at low tide is extremely dangerous. The public is urged to observe the island from a safe distance to give the returning puffins the best chance to settle and breed successfully.
