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Number of breeding Puffins is increasing on Storstappan says NINA scientists

In the beginning of June, 2008 Morten Helberg (left) and Kjetil Bekkeli (right) counted the birds on Storstappen on behalf of NINA (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research). Some birds are increasing and other birds are decreasing in breeding numbers.

The Puffins are breeding everywhere on Storstappen. From 5 meters above sea level to the man made cairn on top of Storstappen. There is a 15% increase of occupied Puffin nests. Some 100 pairs are even laying their eggs directly on the rocks, inside puffin burrows. The nest is normally made by just a few straws of grass.

The Razorbill is not easy to count, however, it looks like the bird is doing okay. They breed more or less everywhere where there is naked rocks on the island.

The Guillemot is struggling. Less Capelin to eat, wonders Helberg? The Black Guillemot is not present at Storstappen in great numbers, at least 200 pairs. But they are also breeding on many other rocks and islands in the area.

The Fulmar is steady compared to 2007, so is the Gannet. In 2007, Helberg spotted a Gannet that had been ringed as chick on Andøya in 1986. The Gannet in Gjesvær partly originates from the North Sea, and birds ringed at the British Isles are breeding at Gjesvær.

The Kittiwake is hardly breeding other places in Finnmark this year, such as, Sørøya, Kongsfjorden, Båtsfjord and Varanger. On Storstappen there were 1800 pairs last year and hopefully they are succeeding to raise some chicks.

Helberg and Bekkeli have seen other small birds at Storstappen this year: Snow bunting (30 – 40 individuals, not breeding pairs), Meadow pipit, Rock pipit, Ring quzel, Twite and Wheatear. They also spotted a few Glaucous gulls but only young birds that not are breeding.