Last week, we travelled to Auskerry to service our rodent monitoring stations. Auskerry is a rat and mouse free island, which makes it perfect for breeding seabirds to thrive on. After replacing our wax chew blocks to find none of them had any chew marks, we can be sure that this is still the case!

Biosecurity is business as usual for @skomerisland.bsky.social @wtsww.bsky.social. They, like so many other islands, work tirelessly to protect & monitor seabirds while allowing us all to enjoy them. We've provided seabird islands in Wales with extra surveillance kit to support their brilliant work.

Puffins are returning out to sea where they will spend the next 8 months. But we will continue biosecurity checks and surveillance to ensure that their islands stay rat-free for them to return to next year, and for this years chicks to breed on safely too when they return in around 4 years time.

Biosecurity Beer Mats! We've put our biosecurity checklist on beer mats and distributed them amongst pubs and hotels surrounding seabird island embarkation points for visitors to seabird islands to swot up on biosecurity before heading out, have you seen one out in the wild yet? #NationalMarineWeek

Burrow & crevice nesting #seabirds mainly nest on #islands free of invasive predators, #biosecurity protects them. Some, like this #pufflings parents still survive on mainland coastal cliffs by hiding in inaccessible sections where predators such as rats can't reach them & eat their eggs or chicks.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2w ago

‘A great thrill’: baby puffin is first one seen on Dorset coast in three decades

Projected #climatechange effects on #seabird abundance make #conservation action essential to mitigate impacts by securing safe breeding & feeding areas, restoring food supplies & reducing adult mortality. These goals can be achieved through investment in seabird action plans including #biosecurity

RSPB Science@rspbscience.bsky.social · last mo.

A new report shows climate change is already impacting UK bird populations. Upland birds & seabirds face steep declines in their numbers underlining the need for action, while some southern species are expanding their ranges. Find out more: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen... @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶

Constantly surprised by the stories we hear...last week #Lundy had a dead hedgehog wash up, 11miles from the mainland! Hedgehogs aren't a fan of swimming so who knows how it got there! Read about why we love hedgehogs on the mainland but not on our #islands: biosecurityforlife.org.uk/blog/2020-04...

European Hedgehog

In light of the hedgehog’s mainland declines, it may seem a little surprising that they are considered an invasive species on the UK’s offshore islands. In fact, hedgehogs have been found to survive a...

biosecurityforlife.org.uk

Fantastic to celebrate 20yrs of #Lundy being rat free last month. Manx Shearwater no's have increased 7500%, there are lots of fluffy chicks being monitored now. #Biosecurity is essential for continued success - e.g. checking #island supplies before loading & having rodenticide onboard MS Oldenburg

Fantastic to see #island restoration & #biosecurity knowledge sharing on Isles of Scilly with @rspb.bsky.social, www.ulster.ac.uk/cmap & causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk joining Isles of #Scilly @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social for community workshops about: www.ios-wildlifetrust.org.uk/our-projects...

Thanks to #PaddleCymru & @penrhynbirder.bsky.social for including links to our resources biosecurityforlife.org.uk/admin/resour... for kayakers in this great article which you can read online here: online.fliphtml5.com/mtwnw/Ceufad.... Happy paddling & #seabird spotting this summer!

Julian Hughes@penrhynbirder.bsky.social · 3w ago

Thanks to #PaddleCymru for featuring the value of our coastal wildlife in Ceufad mag: how to enjoy and respect these special places, avoid disturbing breeding birds and seals, and contribute to our knowledge from your #kayak or #SUP. 📷 @rspbcymru.bsky.social online.fliphtml5.com/mtwnw/Ceufad...

One pregnant rat can produce a colony of over 300 in just 8 months and an adult rat eats about 30g a day - Puffin chicks weigh about 40g when they hatch and adult Storm Petrels weigh a maximum of 30g!

At this time of year seabird chicks should be safe in their rat-free island nests. But some islands have had serious incursions this year and we have witnessed seabirds being killed by rats on islands which were rat-free this time last year. Use our biosecurity checklist to help protect seabirds.

@rspbcymru calls on our new @WelshGovernment for urgent action, including embedding robust biosecurity measures into relevant statutory organisations to protect the future of Wales’ internationally important seabirds. If you haven't already seen it: www.rspb.org.uk/wales/news/w...

Today is #WorldSeabirdDay, marking the day the Great Auk was last seen in 1844. Let's ensure no other #seabirds go #extinct by ensuring they have safe spaces to breed & feed. Everyone can help by checking bags & boats before visiting #islands & remaining vigilant for #invasive predators like rats.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #QuietReflections, maybe this #Puffin is reflecting on how wonderful it is that people care about #seabirds having safe spaces to breed, carrying out quick #biosecurity checks of bags & boats before visiting our incredible #islands - thanks all! RSPB Images: Andy Hay

It's that time of year already when the #seabird cliff ledges start to get quieter with chicks fledging into the big wide world. Thanks to #biosecurity measures lots of our #islands continue to provide spaces free from invasive predators where seabirds can safely rear their young - a #happy sight!

David Steel@steelyseabirder.bsky.social · last mo.

The first Guillemot chick has now fledged (jumped off the cliff!) on the Isle of May and this month will see thousands depart. We wish them well.

Find out more about what life is like managing an #island reserve from the #Coquet Site Manager below. The role is varied with habitat & volunteer management, species monitoring, & #Biosecurity surveillance & preventative measures just some of the tasks involved! www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...

Invasive non-native species are one of the major drivers of nature loss globally – and a significant pressure on Scotland’s wildlife ⚠️ We’re involved in projects and partnerships across Scotland to prevent, reduce or remove the threat to ensure our amazing species and habitats are protected 💪

Thanks to @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social for helping us raise awareness about #biosecurity on #seabird #islands in their latest newsletter. We would love it if all seabird researchers became biosecurity ambassadors, helping us spread the word, carrying out checks & keeping their eyes out on the ground

The Seabird Group@theseabirdgroup.bsky.social · last mo.

Our June 2026 newsletter has arrived in your inbox! 💌 We learn about the importance of @biosecuritylife.bsky.social and rescuing grounded shearwaters as well as celebrate 40-years of @smp-seabirds.bsky.social! Plus the usual Seabirder Spotlight, paper releases and some exciting news! 🗞️ #seabirds

It's #InvasiveSpeciesWeek and a good time to highlight that although many mammals are native to mainland UK, most are not native on islands and these invasive mammalian predators are a big risk to our important native seabirds. If you see one on an island report it to us or island staff!

Island residents are always interested to watch our amazing Conservation Detection Dogs in action! We welcomed Reid and his handler Rachel onto the Biosecurity for Wales team for the day back in the spring to perform a routine check of @enllibardsey @bardsey_bird_obs

During routine surveillance on the Skerries back in April, signs of rodent gnaw marks were discovered on a wax chew block. Within 4 days we had a full incursion grid laid out across the islands and Conservation Detection Dog Jinx and his handler Greg searched the islands for signs of rat.

Back in the spring a routine Conservation Detection Dog check confirmed @skokholm_island continues to be rat-free. Jinx and his handler Greg searched buildings, burrows and were sure to check the area that a life raft wrecked back in 2024.

The other island we work on in the Isles of #Scilly SPA is rat free Annet, the 2nd largest uninhabited island there. The public cannot land on Annet & the Isles of Scilly #Wildlife Trust only visit a few times a year to reduce disturbance to the 6000 pairs of seabirds & large grey seal colony there.

St Agnes & Gugh is the main #island we work on in the Isles of #Scilly Special Protection Area. There are ~85 inhabitants but also room for increasing no.'s of burrow nesting European Storm Petrel & Manx Shearwater thanks to the removal of rats in 2013/14. #Biosecurity helps maintain this +ve trend!

#Lundy Site of Special Scientific Interest is designated for breeding #seabirds - #Puffins, Manx #Shearwaters, #Kittiwakes, #Razorbill & Common #Guillemot. Thanks to the removal of #invasive rats between 2002-04 Manx Shearwater no.'s have increased 7500% since & European Storm Petrel now breed there

We focus on the benefits to #seabirds of keeping #islands free of invasive non-native mammalian predators but removing invasive predators from islands or ideally using #biosecurity to prevent them reaching islands in the 1st place benefits the entire #ecosystem www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Lord Howe Island got rid of its rats and mice – now its ‘wonderful’ insect life is back

Invasive vermin decimated the island’s native flora and fauna – but its unique cockroaches and beetles are thriving once again

theguardian.com

Today is #WorldOceansDay, our #BirdOfTheDay the #Puffin needs safe spaces to breed & feed. All #seabirds need nest sites free of invasive predators or inaccessible to them. All seabirds also need a well managed #Marine Protected Area #MPA network. Seabirds need safe spaces on land & at sea to thrive

RSPB@rspb.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Today's #SpringStories turns to the cliffs, where Pufflings stay tucked in burrows for weeks, fed sandeels by parents. By the time chicks fledge, adults will have returned to sea. When ready, little Puffins venture out under the safety of night & make for the open water.

#ClimateChange increases sea temperature reducing #seabird food availability, as well as increasing intensity of storms which kill seabirds in large wrecks. Storms can also increase the chance of #invasive predators reaching seabird #islands on storm debris. Act #NowForClimate #WorldEnvironmentDay

Our #biosecurity #conservation #detectiondog team had a great time at the Amble #Puffin Festival with @rspb.bsky.social #Coquet colleagues, demonstrating just how effective dogs are at seeking out their target smell. Not rats in this case but tiny pieces of Kong! www.theambler.co.uk/2026/05/29/s...