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Winter Storms Trigger Devastating Puffin Die-Off in Europe

3/20/2026

29 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The severe winter storms along the Atlantic coasts of western Europe have caused the worst puffin die-off since 2014, with an estimated 30,000 to 34,000 puffins affected and many more believed to have perished at sea.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) warns that avian flu and declining sand eel populations threaten puffin breeding success.
Other seabirds, including gannets and kittiwakes, face rising marine pollution.

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Story summary

The severe winter storms along the Atlantic coasts of western Europe have caused the worst puffin die-off since 2014, with an estimated 30,000 to 34,000 puffins affected and many more believed to have perished at sea.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) warns that avian flu and declining sand eel populations threaten puffin breeding success.
Other seabirds, including gannets and kittiwakes, face rising marine pollution.