Island seabirds have 'successful breeding season'

More than half of the breeding gannets on Alderney raised a chick, experts said

Seabirds in Alderney have had a successful breeding season this year, wildlife experts have said.

The Alderney Wildlife Trust (AWT) said fulmars, which nest on the island's cliffs, have had their "best breeding success in almost a decade".

The trust said 17 chicks had been recorded, compared to 10 chicks in 2024, which was the highest number since 2016.

The breeding season for puffins was longer than normal, with birds laying eggs earlier, and more than half of the breeding gannets raised a chick, the trust added.

AWT said figures showed the puffin population remained stable

An AWT spokesperson said more than 55% of gannet pairs had raised and fledged a chick, which they said had been "a marked improvement from 47% in 2024".

They said the trust was undertaking a detailed annual census of gannets at Les Etacs and Ortac and used 3D modelling to record occupied nests.

They said final figures for the puffin population would not be available until October but preliminary counts had indicated a stable breeding population.

"The highest early season count reached 190 puffins, up from 175 in 2024, suggesting numbers remain consistent year-on-year," they added.