Playing with Puffins

The outdoors is one of the best and easiest ways to explore science. The added bonus is that we know that getting connected to nature makes us feel good too! Renée recently spent a week on Skomer Island, a nature reserve off the west coast of Wales. It’s Puffin breeding season right now, a time she’s always wanted to see first-hand. She also wanted to get up close and personal with puffins and she wasn’t disappointed! Luckily for us, she’s put together a whole heap of resources as part of the Great Science Share for Schools which took place over May and June.

Puffins at Play a talk with Marine Birdlife expert, Annette Fayet

Renée and hosted a live event with Puffin scientist Annette Fayet and ran a Q&A session. Here’s a recording of the whole thing.

Photos of the beautiful wildlife that Renee and her family encountered on Skomer

There’s all kind of creatures on Skomer.

1. Puffins EVERYWHERE!
2. Short-eared Owl
3. Spoonbill
4. St. George’s mushroom
5. Slow worm
6. Raven stealing a gull egg
7. Seals
8. Razorbills
9. Guillemots
10. Lots of different Gulls
11. Buzzards

Take a look!

Watch Renee’s video diary

Staying on a Skomer Island is a full-on back-to-basics experience! Renée kept a video diary of her time on the island so that you can see what life is like living off-grid on a nature reserve. You can access the whole series here starting with this episode with Renée waiting to get the boat across!

Read the Great Science Share Blog

Renee has also written a blog of her experience for The Great Science Share for schools.

Interested in visiting Skomer?

Head over to the South & West Wales Wildlife Trust website for all the details.

(Photo credits to Kerry Fisher: instagram @last_of_the_late_developers.)