BIRDWATCH Ireland is asking people to report any sightings of dead puffins after a number were discovered on Gola Island. It is not clear what is causing the deaths and Birdwatch Ireland says it would be keen to inspect at least one of the carcasses.
Residents on Gola say they have encountered a number of dead puffins in recent days and believe there could be more on other less accessible parts of the island.
The development comes after more than 100 dead puffins washed up on the north east coast of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland just prior to Christmas.
It is not clear if the Donegal finds are linked however following the Scotland discoveries seabird ecologist Dr Francis Daunt said it was “worrying” to see so many puffins washing up “dead and sick”.
He said the dead birds had been described as “emaciated” which suggested issues within the marine food chain.
Bird flu was ruled out as a cause as the puffins tested negative for the virus. One possible explanation was a failure in the food supply possibly caused by higher than normal temperatures in early September.
Puffins are not uncommon to Donegal. Tory is a Special Protected Area under the EU birds Directive due to the colonies of fulmar, corncrake, razorbill and puffin that live there.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Steve Newton of Birdwatch Ireland said that tagged puffins have been known to journey across the Atlantic all the way to Canada.
They make the return journey around this time of year however now would be a bit ahead of schedule for them to be reaching Donegal’s shores, Mr Newton said.
The Birdwatch Ireland officer said he would be keen to take possession of one of the dead birds so a post mortem can be carried out.
“There is a lab within the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology where they analyse dead sea birds.
“If we can get one of these puffins we should be able to see what is causing this, whether it is starvation or something more sinister.”
In the case of the Scottish puffins, another possible explanation was toxic poisoning from algal blooms. Steve Newton said that a further fear would be that the birds have consumed plastic beads somewhere along their journey.
He added though that until tests are carried out, there is no way of knowing what is behind the fatalities.
“We just don’t know but I would be very interested in hearing from anyone else who has come across dead puffins in Donegal, just to see if we can get to the bottom of what is happening here,” Mr Newton said.
Birdwatch Ireland can be reached via their website or the email address info@birdwatchireland.ie
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)