As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Friday, 25 April 2014

Ramsey Island puffins get sound system to help breeding programme

A sound system playing puffin calls is the latest ploy in a bid to lure the birds back to Ramsey Island to breed after an absence of 100 years.

The RSPB was inspired to use the recording after hearing how experts on an island off Northern Ireland had been successful doing something similar.

The charity has been placing fibreglass puffins on Ramsey without success for about four years.

The birds deserted the island in the late 1800s when rats inhabited it.

The solar-powered sound system plays a recording of the bird's low growl on a three-hour loop at 07:00, 12:00 and 17:00 BST.

It is hoped the calls will attract the birds to the cliff-tops, leading them to see the decoys and eventually breed.

'Low growl'
The recording was trialled for around a month last year but this is the first time it will be used during the entire breeding season from April until early August.

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