Puffin Project

In 2012 and 2013 a collective of organisations including Manx Wildlife Trust and Manx National Heritage undertook a brown rat eradication programme on the Calf of Man. This was all a part of the Manx Shearwater Recovery Programme, and by 2014 it was already apparent that Manx Shearwaters were recovering and by 2021 a six-fold increase was recorded.

Manx Wildlife Trust saw the opportunities that a rodent free Island would have for ground-nesting species and species that nest in old rabbit burrows. Puffins last bred on the Island in 1987 and their decline was likely due to rat predation. At their recorded peak in 1979 there were 60 breeding pairs. The decline of the puffins and the arrival of brown rats were well documented; around 1790’s even the Duchess of Athol regretted their extermination on the Calf which was attributed to a shipwreck off the Calf bringing rats.

So the potential for Puffins exists now that the rodents are controlled. Encouraging the return of the Puffin to the Calf of Man was a mission we could achieve.

Puffling in burrow. The eggs of ground nesting birds are susceptible to predation as they are easy to access by species such as the brown rat.

Charles Thody Wildlife Images - Charles Thody Photography

The Deception

Puffins are, monogamous, site faithful, and social. We need to trick young birds into thinking that the Calf of Man is an active, successful breeding site. In 2016 100 decoy resin puffins were attached to rocks and cliff edges at two sites around the Island and speakers playing puffin calls were set up. Each year the puffins have been repaired and replaced, and the speaker systems maintained.

Dr Lara Howe, MWT's Marine Officer predicted it would take 5 or more years to work, as this is how long a fledgeling puffin takes to mature. The prediction was spot on.

Puffin decoys on the Calf of Man — A community of decoy puffins on the Calf of Man

The Breakthrough

In 2021 the first puffin was spotted snuggling up to one of the decoys and later with nesting material.. Manx National Heritage and MWT publicly announced ‘The Return of the Puffin’. The Calf wardens were kept busy in 2021 monitoring the site to establish if nesting did actually take place. Sadly not but the efforts continue.

The first nesting attempt is encouraging, but now comes the job of sustaining a long-term recovery.

Calf real puffin — The first puffin to be spotted on the Calf of Man in 40 years, having a good inspection of one of the decoys.

Black Guillemot

Peel Clowns

If you think of sea birds as nesting on precarious sea-cliffs and remote off-shore islands, think again. Hang around the Peel breakwater and marina in the spring and summer and the observant among you may spot the antics of the Black Guillemot. Related to puffins, these little sea birds will scamper within a few meters of people and cars chasing each other along the harbour walls and under the water. Their red clown feet add to the spectacle. They utilise the holes in the harbour walls for nests to ley their eggs, safe from predators.

Why are they on the Red List?

Like many sea birds Black Guillemot, has declined, but this bird’s decline is dramatic. Between 1999 and 2016 (the two sea bird census) Manx Bird Life recorded a 65% drop in numbers down to 106 breeding pairs. This is much higher than the overall British decline of 26%. For this reason it is on the Manx red list and the British amber list species. Unlike many of our sea birds, black guillemot tends to stay within a few miles of the shore.

Hard to find

Black Guillemots nest in some of the most obvious public places, but they also nest in very awkward areas such as rock crevices on Bradda Head. It is the harbours however where we can do something for them. We can mimic the crevices in old harbour walls by installing nest boxes. In County Down, Northern Ireland, the British Trust for Ornithology have had great success with wooden nest boxes (Black Guillemot nest boxes | BTO - British Trust for Ornithology).

MWT and Douglas Harbour

MWT are working with Department of Infrastructure to erect nest boxes for black guillemots, to help provide these birds with multiple additional nesting opportunities. The boxes will be installed this year (2023) before the nesting season begins. We will continue to monitor them through the breeding season to see if they are being utilised or not.