This spring and summer, you can watch a live feed of thousands of tiny puffins nesting and raising their chicks from the comfort of your own home.
“This year, our puffin webcam is offering a burrow-side view of puffins for the first time,” says the National Trust as it launches a livestream for people to see the tiny birds throughout their nesting season. “You'll feel part of the colony as you watch them go about their daily lives, courting, nesting and providing for their young.”
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Puffins – sometimes nicknamed 'sea parrots' or 'clowns of the sea' – return to the Farne Islands, off the coast of Northumberland, each year to raise their chick – known as a puffling. Each pair typically raises one chick. “The best time to view is morning, before the birds go off to feed, and evening before they settle down for the night,” says the National Trust.
According to 2024 data, there are around 50,000 pairs of puffins breeding on the Farne Islands – up from just under 44,000 in 2019.
“The National Trust has been caring for the Farne Islands for 100 years this year, and during that time bird numbers have soared, making it one of the best places to see seabirds in the UK,” the organisation says.
What might you see on this seabird stream? “Look out for parading puffins and ruffled feathers as males defend their territory and puffin pairs 'billing’ – rubbing their bills together to reinforce their bonds,” says the National Trust. “You may even be lucky enough to spot young pufflings towards the end of the season, when they fledge the nest.”
Main image: puffins on Inner Farne and Staple Island. Credit: Getty
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