If You Love Puffins…

No-longer-here/Pixabay

If you love puffins and could cope with living on the island of Skomer between the end of March to the end of September in three-month stints, the perfect job could be just coming up.

The island, managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales,needs people to undertake the essential work of protecting these birds which are considered vulnerable to extinction.

The work is voluntary but all expenses such as accommodation and travel to and from the island are covered. There is also a bursary of between £200 and £400 available.

Counting the birds is not a simple job and involves using a clicker to count all the puffins the volunteer can see. It is carried out each spring to monitor returning birds after a winter away. Boats and other seabirds and seals may also be part of the monitoring responsibilities

As the summer comes in, work will also involve checking on puffin chicks. Ongoing responsibilities of volunteers also include monitoring other species such as cetaceans, moths, reptiles and voles.

If you were thinking that the job would be one where you were a castaway, think again. Another responsibility would be to welcome what amounts to an annual visitor turnout of more than 25,000.

More information: www.welshwildlife.org