Dwindling puffin numbers on the Isle of May are a warning to us all

There are few sights more joyful than a puffin. With their colourful beaks, bright eyes and wonderfully curious expressions, they have become one of Scotland’s most beloved birds. For many of us, seeing puffins is one of those magical experiences that stays with you.

That is why the latest news from the Isle of May is so deeply concerning. NatureScot has reported that the number of occupied puffin burrows on the island has fallen by around 30 per cent since 2024. The latest count estimates there are now around 36,500 occupied burrows, compared with 52,000 just two years ago.

placeholder image — The Isle of May is a haven for thousands of seabirds

The Isle of May is a truly remarkable place. Sitting in the Firth of Forth, the Isle of May is a haven for thousands of seabirds and has been protected as a National Nature Reserve for 70 years. For people across the east of Scotland, it is also a place where we can experience this wildlife for ourselves, whether taking a boat from Anstruther in Fife or travelling from North Berwick to visit the island.

I have always believed that connecting people with nature is one of the best ways to inspire us to protect it. Seeing puffins nesting on the cliffs, seals swimming in the water and seabirds filling the skies makes the natural world feel real and precious. But these birds are also giving us a warning.

Scientists say the decline is linked to increasingly extreme weather, poor winter survival and pressures on food supplies. Rising ocean temperatures can reduce the availability of sand eels, a crucial food source for puffins, while severe storms can kill large numbers of seabirds.

This is what climate change looks like. It is not simply a graph showing rising temperatures. It is changes to our seas, our weather and the ability of wildlife to survive. The puffin is an icon of Scotland. We must make sure it remains part of Scotland’s future, not just its past. Protecting nature and tackling climate change are not separate challenges. They are the same fight, and we urgently need to win it.