Confused pufflings in danger around the Forth
People in East Lothian and Fife are being asked to help the endangered puffin population by looking out for young birds disorientated by lights from the mainland as they emerge from their burrows.
Every summer, adventurous, though slightly confused, pufflings are rescued from a range of tight spots along the Firth of Forth coastline.
They've been found underneath cars, in plant pots and even recently a port-a-loo on the Isle of May.
The puffin is red-listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as it is globally vulnerable and declining in numbers.
Once reported, a team from the Scottish SPCA or the Scottish Seabird Centre can collect the pufflings and release them in safer areas, away from known predators.
Scottish Seabird Centre boat guide, James Leyden, said: “Puffins and their pufflings are now leaving their burrows not only on the Isle of May and other islands in the Firth of Forth.
"After leaving their burrows some pufflings can become disorientated by lights from the mainland.
"Their first ever flight may see them flying into town and seeking somewhere dark to hide from predators often underneath cars and under plants in gardens.
Pufflings look completely different from their adult counterparts. They are shades of grey, white and black, and their smaller beaks don’t have the characteristic bright colours that the adults have in summer.
There are around 2600 apparently occupied puffin burrows on Craigleith and around 55,000 in total on islands in the Forth, with two adults and one puffling for each successful burrow nest.
Scottish Seabird Centre: 01620 890202
Scottish SPCA: 03000 999 99