They call themselves “puffineers.” This group of intrepid researchers trekked to the northernmost point of Scotland last May to count puffins. Their goal: to see how the puffin populations are doing in the face of climate change.
After years of being a species of least concern, puffins were upgraded to vulnerable in 2015—the first step on the way to an endangered species. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds estimates that puffin numbers across the U.K. and Europe have plummeted in recent years.
They call themselves “puffineers.” This group of adventurous researchers traveled to the northernmost point of Scotland last May to count puffins. Their goal: to see how the puffin populations are doing in the face of climate change.
Puffins were classified as a vulnerable species in 2015. That means puffins face threats that could cause them to go extinct. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds keeps track of bird populations. It estimates that the number of puffins across the U.K. and Europe has fallen in recent years.