Why the warming North Sea threatens our favourite seabirds
30 May 2019
Lying just off the Scottish east coast in the Firth of Forth, the Isle of May is a haven for seabirds. In the early summer months the island’s craggy cliffs are chock full with thousands of nesting birds, including guillemots, shags, razorbills and puffins. But their future on the island is not secure.
As the Landward team discovered, the birds eat sand eels, a species which thrives in cold water. And as the temperature of the North Sea rises, the eels’ continued existence in the area – and that of the birds too – has come under threat.
Puffins at risk from warming sea water
Sand eels, the staple food of puffins, will become scarce as the temperature rises.
Podcast
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Planet Puffin: Island Life
Emily Knight and Becky Ripley explore the Isle of May, Scotland's puffin paradise where they鈥檒l be following breeding season in #planetpuffin.
On 大象传媒 iPlayer
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Landward: Firth of Forth special
Dougie goes sea swimming, Arlene is on the Isle of May, Euan sees the industrial land reclaimed by nature and Nick cooks ups lobster in North Berwick.
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