Huffin and a Puffin by Catriona Hall
Puffins are common in Iceland and also found on the Farne Islands off Northumberland’s coast (Sir David Attenborough’s favourite wildlife spot). They are also found on Fare Isle (Scotland’s most remote inhabited island, known for its shipping forecast: Fair Isle, Northwest 5 to 7, occasional gale 8 at first etc. Rough or very rough. Showers, rain later‘.
Puffins spend most time on water, using their unique tongues to grab slippery fish and sand eels. They are not good fliers (they often crash-land, and bump into other puffins!) These ‘sea parrots’ have grey beaks that turn orange in summer, to attract a mate. Resulting ‘pufflings’ live in little recesses that parents dig, to keep them safe from predators.
Like all wildlife, the best way to help is to live a simple zero-waste life. Puffins have been washed up with plastic pellets in their stomachs. Recently an Irish charity found one tangled in a disposable face mask. And in The Netherlands, there have been mass strandings of thousands of dead puffins (most were emaciated, over-fishing deemed the cause).
Choose biodegradable beauty, cleaning & laundry products. This prevents algae bloom, which chokes oxygen out of our waters, and harms marine wildlife. A trip to your indie health shop!
Wear natural fabrics (cotton, hemp, linen) to avoid microplastics escaping the washing machine and going into the sea. If you have clothes made from synthetic fibres (nylon, polyester, recycled plastic bottles), launder in a microplastic catch bag.
Use a reusable face mask. Disposable face masks have been termed ‘the new plastic bottle’. If you have to use one for medical reasons, snip the strips (to avoid creatures getting tangled) and dispose of safely.
Most oil spills are used by home/supermarket car washes, sending untreated oily water down the drain and into the sea. Use a waterless car wash (sold in stores or online). Or use a professional car wash that recycles the water (get antifreeze changed at the mechanic, within an enclosed environment, also safer as it’s lethal to pets and wildlife).
Avoid releasing balloons or fire lanterns. Even if made from latex, balloons take 6 months to biodegrade and before that, explode and fall into the sea (where marine creatures eat them, thinking they are jellyfish). Fire lanterns leave behind metal spikes (they are also fire hazards) and also get mistaken for coastal flares, putting lifeguard lives at risk. 70% of everything that goes up in the air, lands in the sea.
If you sail, see tips to be a greener boater (includes tips for wildlife-friendly boating). If you fish, read up on how to prevent ghost fishing waste (includes how to safely recycle tackle, and also keeping birds safe, by not using vessels that look like nesting sites).
Start a beach clean project. This helps all wildlife, plus protects dogs and children from injuries due to glass, needles etc. Get permission from the council and kit out with gloves, hi-glo jackets and sharps boxes, and keep away from high tides (follow beach flag advice). Common litter found includes cigarette butts, tampons, cotton buds, baby wipes and plastic.
To learn more, read The Seabird’s Cry (the author follows puffins, gannets and other seabirds on their coastal journeys from the Scottish islands to Scandavia). And The Puffin Book (an informative guide with stunning images of this tenacious little bird, by a wildlife photographer).
