Numbers of Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica found on beached bird surveys in Orkney and Shetland over a 30-year period

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Long-term beached bird survey data from Orkney and Shetland were examined for abnormal mortality patterns of Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica that coincided with decreased breeding numbers at colonies in eastern Britain. Unusually high numbers of dead Atlantic Puffins were found in the late winters of 2002/03 and 2003/04, autumn and early winter 2006, and autumn 2007, although not necessarily in both island groups at the same time. The 2007 mortality was unusual in that some adult birds were replacing their primaries.