‘Puffin-cam’ is going live for bird lovers today with plans for a nationwide “tour” of one of the nation’s favourite birds.
Footage from the Farne Islands in Northumberland will offer a front‑row seat to the “charming antics and everyday lives of these much-loved seabirds,” the National Trust said. Guillemots will also star on the live camera feeds.
A second camera is trained to capture their antics on the cliffs where they roost and nest. The Farne Islands are home to around 200,000 seabirds, including puffins, Arctic terns, guillemots and kittiwakes. It is also popular with day trippers who like to go out and see the birds on the islands.
View 3 ImagesThe popular Puffins will be seen on a webcam from the Farne Islands(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
The islands, and the birds which return to breed each spring, have been cared for by the National Trust for more than 100 years. They re-opened for the season with visitor boats now landing on the island, offering the public the chance to experience one of the UK’s most spectacular wildlife gatherings.
Laura Knowles, Visitor Operations Manager for the National Trust, said: “The breeding season is always a special time of year as our ranger teams gear up to monitor the birds daily over the spring and summer months. We’re thrilled to bring Puffin Cam back for a second season. Last year the live cams attracted over a quarter of a million views.
View 3 ImagesThey fly through the air with the greatest of ease – puffins on the Farne Islands(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
“We were overwhelmed by the incredible messages from people across the world who tuned in to watch the puffins go about their daily lives. It was wonderful to see how deeply the live stream connected viewers to the Farnes, especially those who may never have the chance to visit in person.
“Puffin Cam is a simple but powerful way to share the magic of Farne Islands wildlife with everyone, wherever they are. We’re also thrilled to welcome visitors back to the islands and sail around tours will continue for those who prefer to experience the magic of the islands from the water.”
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To land on Inner Farne or Longstone, or to sail around the islands, you need to catch a boat from Seahouses harbour, with the National Trust recommending booking your boat trip in advance. The islands are a haven for seabirds due to the lack of ground preadtors such as rats and stoats. In order to protect the birds’ environment the National Trust asks visitors to seal all bags, make sure your bag is packed in a rodent-free environment and hasn’t been accessed by rodants, to avoid leaving bags unattended on Seashouses Harbour and to avoid bringing plants with root balls, composed, potted herbs or seeds.
Next month, the puffins will tour city centres through the National Trust’s Window to the Wild project. The tour is with a big screen which will show the live puffin cam footage from the islands.
National Trust staff to talk to those watching the cameras about the puffins, their behaviour and the Farne Islands. The big screen will be appearing in cities including Newcastle, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Belfast and Bristol as part of the Festival of Nature.