Thu. Jan 9th, 2025

More than 30 seabirds have mysteriously vanished from Jerseyโ€™s north coast, according to the conservation group Birds on the Edge (BOTE). Among the missing are a pair of puffins, eight razorbills, and over 20 fulmars from the headland near Plemont.

In 2023, BOTE launched a campaign to establish Europeโ€™s first predator-proof seabird reserve, aiming to restore coastal habitats and safeguard wildlife with a specially designed one-mile (1.6 km) fence. Cris Sellares, the BOTE project officer, suspects predators like rats and ferrets are responsible for the disappearances due to their easy access to the headlandโ€™s slope.

Sellares explained, โ€œIf some birds from different parts of a colony go missing, they may have perished in winter or storms. However, the fact that all the missing birds are from the same location suggests a localised issue.โ€

Despite this setback, Sellares noted that other seabird populations in Jersey, including razorbills, puffins, gulls, and fulmars, are thriving. She mentioned that these birds are likely โ€œnesting and tending to their chicks, feeding them sand eels.โ€

She expressed optimism for the future, saying, โ€œHopefully, the chicks will fledge successfully, and the birds will return next year.โ€

The group also reported that three remaining puffin pairs have successfully raised chicks, keeping hope alive for the return of the missing seabirds next year.

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