Puffin patrol on the Isle of May: 52,000

Sitting at the mouth of the Firth of Forth in Scotland, the Isle of May is a sanctuary for nesting seabirds and the destination for this episode.

Join Alice and Sue as they journey to the island and meet UKCEH Field Manager Mark Newell and his dedicated team. Discover the critical work they do to monitor seabird colonies, including the iconic puffin, providing valuable insights into the health of our marine ecosystems.

Alice and Sue also chat with Assistant Reserve Manager Thomas Skinner to uncover the rich history of this National Nature Reserve, meticulously managed by NatureScot since 1989, and find out about the tireless efforts of the Isle of May Bird Observatory Trust volunteers.


UKCEH Isle of May Long Term Study (IMLOTS)
https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/isle-may-long-term-study

Seabird Monitoring Programme
JNCC - https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/seabird-monitoring/
BTO - https://app.bto.org/seabirds/public/index.jsp

NatureScot – Isle of May National Nature Reserve
https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/visit-our-nature-reserves/isle-may-national-nature-reserve

Isle of May Bird Observatory
https://isleofmaybirdobs.org/

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope 

Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.