Storms Trigger Mass Seabird Deaths
Severe winter storms have left hundreds of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills, dead or dying along British beaches. The situation is even worse across France and Spain, where many UK-breeding seabirds spend the winter, sparking fears of a large-scale seabird “wreck.” France’s leading bird charity reports more than 20,000 stranded birds along the Atlantic coast since February, most of them puffins. Wildlife experts warn the true toll is likely far higher, as many birds lost at sea are never recovered.
Alarming Numbers Across Europe
Cornwall alone has recorded over 270 dead puffins this year, compared to just two last year, with other reports coming from Scotland and England’s North East. The RSPB describes this as a mass mortality event caused by exhaustion and starvation after storms, the first on this scale since 2014, when over 50,000 seabirds washed up across Europe. France, Spain, and Portugal are also seeing thousands of birds affected, overwhelming wildlife rescue centers and prompting transfers of sick birds to relieve stressed facilities.
Protecting Vulnerable Seabird Populations
Experts emphasize that UK seabirds are already in decline, with ten of the 25 breeding species now on the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List. Conservationists call for stronger protections, including better management of fishing to secure food sources, expanded marine protected areas, safeguarding breeding colonies, and careful planning of offshore wind projects. The RSPB urges the public to report dead birds to Defra or BirdTrack but not to handle them directly, highlighting the fragility of seabird populations in the face of extreme weather events.
