More than 400 Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) have been found dead along Portugal’s coastline in recent days, according to the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA BirdLife).
The unusually high number of occurences is believed to be linked to the severe storms that have battered the Atlantic in recent weeks. Experts warn the real figure is likely considerably higher.
SPEA says the Alentejo and Vicentina Coast, the northern mainland coast, and the Peniche region are the worst-affected areas, although cases have also been recorded in the Azores. “Similar situations are being reported in Galicia (more than 400 records) and along France’s Atlantic coast (more than 200), indicating a large-scale phenomenon across the European Atlantic,” the organisation said.
A comparable event occurred in the winter of 2022/23, when more than 1,700 puffins were recorded as having washed up in Portugal in just two weeks following poor sea conditions.
Hany Alonso, Senior Science Officer at SPEA, revealed that the current numbers probably represent only a fraction of the total. “We know cases are occurring along much of the coastline, so the 400 records we have are likely only a small part of the whole. We need the public’s help to understand the true extent of the situation,” he said.
The data collected, he added, is crucial for identifying affected species, estimating numbers and assessing impacts on populations.
To better estimate the scale of the problem, SPEA is urging the public to report washed up birds via the ICAO’s monitoring platform. If one finds a live but weakened bird, one should contact SPEA/GNR or ICNF authorities.
If the authorities are unable to respond, and one is able to transport the bird to a rehabilitation centre, the authorities advise that one: Avoids direct contact (use gloves or a cloth); placesthe bird in a cardboard box; takes it to the nearest recovery centre as quickly as possible. The SPEA warns not to feed or give water to the bird, as it must first be assessed by veterinary staff.
Moreover, the entity is asking the public to record all seabirds found, alive or dead, via the free ICAO platform (app or website). Photographs can be uploaded to confirm identification and age, and ring numbers or other useful details may also be submitted to help researchers gain a better understanding of the event.
Storms can force coastal birds to seek shelter on land and push weaker individuals ashore. However, conservationists say prolonged periods of rough weather are particularly damaging. “In a series of storms like the one we have experienced, it is the sustained harsh conditions that create a cumulative impact: rough seas and difficulty feeding drive many birds to extreme exhaustion,” the organisation said.
Puffins are especially vulnerable, and when they cannot feed for extended periods, their physical condition deteriorates severely. Many arrive on shore already exhausted and emaciated, and often die even after rescue because they are too weak to recover.
Source: SPEA
