Bad weather blamed for mass puffin deaths
PA MediaStorms and bad weather could have caused the deaths of dozens of puffins washed up on beaches, according to the RSPB.
Dozens of dead birds have been found on beaches around the north-east of England, including Druridge Bay and Warkworth in Northumberland and Seaburn in Sunderland.
Puffins are classed as a vulnerable bird species in the UK and have colonies on Coquet Island and the Farne Islands, although they are not due to return from their migration for several weeks.
The RSPB said the mass deaths, known as seabird wrecks, could result in "significant colony declines" which would take time to recover.
"The cause of this seabird wreck is yet to be determined, however, several recent storms, another indicator of the impacts of climate change, could be a key factor," a charity spokesperson.
"This unpredictable weather makes conditions at sea more challenging for our internationally important seabirds, who then struggle to feed, leading to starvation."
The RSPB, which runs Coquet Island seabird sanctuary, said avian flu had also not been ruled out as a cause of the deaths.
Impact on numbers
The National Trust, which runs the nature reserve on the Farne Islands, agreed the bad weather probably caused the deaths but said it would be hard to confirm with "absolute scientific certainty".
"We won't know the impact on numbers until we carry out our annual puffin census and calculate the results, however it is important to focus on long term data trends," a spokesperson said.
Puffins spend the winter months out at sea before returning to the UK each year to nest in burrows.
to the RSPB, many of the birds spend the winter in the North Sea but tracking also showed some venture out into the Atlantic.
The region's puffin colonies took a hit in 2022 when thousands succumbed to bird flu.