Storm petrels are the smallest UK seabird and nest in crevices on remote offshore islands, visiting their colonies only at night to avoid gull predation, with welfare entirely dependent on predator-free islands.
Storm petrel welfare depends absolutely on freedom from ground predators including rats, mink, and cats. A single rat introduced to an island colony can systematically predate nests and eliminate the entire breeding population. Island biosecurity and predator removal programmes are the most important welfare intervention for this vulnerable species.