Puffins, often considered one of Britain's most beloved birds, are currently facing several threats. Their primary food source, sand eels, are shifting north due to the climate crisis. This shift impacts the puffins' ability to feed themselves and their single chick.
Beyond climate change, puffins are also endangered by avian flu, pollution, and disturbance. Visitors to their colonies, eager to photograph the birds, can inadvertently cause disruption.
Despite their small size and gentle appearance, puffins are known to fight to protect their catch of sand eels from larger opportunistic birds like skuas or gulls. The bird's scientific name, Fratercula arctica, translates to "little brother of the Arctic."
A new book, "The Puffin: A Biography" by Stephen Moss, is scheduled for publication on 15 October.