Guillemot Welfare in Seabird Colonies

Guillemots are colonial cliff-nesting seabirds that have undergone population changes linked to fish prey availability, pollution, and climate change.

Key Facts

Guillemots nest on bare cliff ledges without building a nest
The single egg has a pointed shape to reduce rolling on narrow ledges
Large colonies including Bempton Cliffs hold tens of thousands of pairs
Diet consists of small fish, particularly sandeels, sprats, and herring
Guillemots are among the deepest-diving of the auk family, reaching 180 metres

Welfare Considerations

Guillemot welfare at colonies depends on prey abundance and nest site security. Decline of sandeels due to overfishing and climate-driven distributional change has caused breeding failure in Shetland and other northern colonies. Oil pollution kills guillemots through feather damage that eliminates waterproofing, leading to rapid hypothermia. Avian influenza (H5N1) has caused significant mortality in guillemots across UK seabird colonies. On-land predation by gulls and peregrine falcons is a natural welfare pressure at exposed colonies. Climate change is altering prey distribution with cascading welfare impacts on breeding success.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns to reduce sandeel fishing pressure to protect seabird food supplies
Participate in seabird monitoring including RSPB Seabird Count updates
Report oiled guillemots to local wildlife rescue centres immediately
Advocate for marine protected areas that include seabird foraging zones