We're excited by the arrival of 150 new residents on Ramsey Island. In a bid to lure puffins to breed on Ramsey again, model decoys have been deployed around the island.
Lisa Morgan from Ramsey tell us that puffin decoys are finally here and installed in suitable locations around the island! The lifelike models were delivered by the sculptor and artist, Eddie Tycer, in early May and are now deployed.
Puffins bred on Ramsey back in the 1800's but their eggs and chicks became easy prey to the rats that arrived on the island through shipwrecks. According to records puffins last bred on the island in 1894.
A century later RSPB spent four months eradicating the rats. Since 2000 we have seen an increase in Manx shearwater numbers (although a small number managed to hang on during the “rat years”) and just last year storm petrels were found breeding for the first time on Ramsey. Puffins would complete the set.
Puffins are difficult to tempt to new breeding sites. They are sociable little birds and prefer to see other birds already established at a site before making landfall themselves. The strategically placed decoys are our attempt to lure the puffins to that important first landing! Once ashore they will find thousands of ready made burrows waiting for them thanks to the island's rabbit population.
With our seabirds struggling around the UK restoring a species to a former breeding site is worth a shot.
Success will not come overnight and may take years. But with a large puffin population on nearby Skomer Island, (c. 8,000 pairs, the largest colony in southern Britain) it is hoped we can pinch a few! These younger, non-breeding birds return to the colonies in late June and July so we will be keeping our eyes peeled over the coming few months!