The bird was rescued by New Arc Wildlife Rescue but could not be saved due to being too weak to recover.
A puffin who washed up on an Aberdeenshire beach in stormy weather has died aged 34. The bird was discovered on January 29 on Balmedie Beach.
It was later taken to New Arc Wildlife Rescue, along with eight other birds. Rescuers discovered the bird was the oldest rescue they had ever came across.
This information came via data from a ring issued by the British Trust for Ornithology on the puffin’s feet. They found the bird was ringed on the Isle of May in 1995, when it was aged three.
A post from New Arc Wildlife Rescue confirmed that the bird sadly passed away after being too weak to recover. The organisation wrote: “Among the many puffins admitted into our care in recent weeks was this extraordinary individual. This puffin, found on Balmedie Beach, carried a leg ring issued by the BTO British Trust for Ornithology.
“We notified the BTO of the recovery, enabling them to update their records. Such information is invaluable, helping scientists monitor movement, longevity, and population trends: data that underpins conservation efforts and informs future conservation strategies.
“Yesterday, we received this puffin’s ringing history…. and what a history it was. The bird had been originally ringed on the Isle of May, on the 11th May 1995.
“At the time of ringing the puffin was estimated to be at least 3 years old. This means that at the time of rescue, this remarkable puffin was over 34 years old, making them the oldest Atlantic puffin ever admitted into our care, and the oldest bird we have ever had a ring recovery for at New Arc Wildlife Rescue.
“Sadly, despite our best efforts, this resilient seabird, like so many others affected by the wreck, was too weak to recover and passed away in our care. While we could not return them to the sea, we are honoured to have cared for such an extraordinary individual in their final chapter. Over more than three decades, this puffin would have weathered countless storms, shifting oceans, and changing seas.”
They continued: “As many of you will know from following our page, a significant puffin wreck has been unfolding along our coastline. In recent weeks, dead and exhausted puffins have been washing ashore not only here, but along much of the UK’s coast and as far south as France, Spain, and Portugal.
“While official figures are still being compiled, it is likely that this event has had a serious impact on the European population of the Atlantic puffin. Prolonged severe weather is thought to be a major factor, creating turbulent seas that make hunting extremely difficult and driving fish stocks deeper beyond the birds’ reach. For a species already facing significant pressures, such events can be devastating.
“Their story is a powerful reminder that no bird is “just a bird.” Each one carries a lifetime of journeys we rarely see and stories we may never fully know. These remarkable creatures are true wonders of the natural world, and they deserve our respect, compassion, and continued commitment to their protection.”
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