Puffins return to island for first time in at least 25 years

Puffins return to Isle of Muck in Antrim after 25 years following rat eradication efforts. Ulster Wildlife's seabird sanctuary saw puffins nesting again, signaling success in restoring the vulnerable seabird population. Conservation management efforts include rat eradication and monitoring, with hopes for more puffins and other lost species like the Manx shearwater returning to the island. Puffins are a priority species in Northern Ireland, facing threats from food scarcity, climate change, and invasive species, highlighting the importance of ongoing conservation efforts.