An Atlantic seabird recorded in Cyprus has made headlines among conservationists and birdwatchers, marking the first known appearance of a puffin on the island.
On 21 July, a young Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) was spotted in a weakened state by Gürdal Giritli and sadly died shortly afterwards, according to BirdLife Cyprus. The sighting marks the first recorded presence of this species in Cyprus.
Nature photographer Hüseyin Yorgancı contacted the Wildlife Rescue Hotline, ensuring the bird was collected and transferred to the Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute. Initial examination showed the puffin was young and in poor physical condition. Biometric data was recorded, and a necropsy was scheduled for the next morning.
While the sighting of an Atlantic seabird recorded in Cyprus is rare and remarkable, it also raises concerns. Puffins are native to the North Atlantic, and such long-distance displacements may indicate environmental stress or disorientation caused by extreme weather or habitat loss.
Before a similar sighting in Israel in 2018, the easternmost known puffin record was Sicily in 1984 — about 1,700 km from Cyprus.
BirdLife Cyprus described the incident as “exciting yet sad,” highlighting the challenges seabirds face due to climate shifts, habitat loss, and disorientation from extreme weather or exhaustion. The group noted that such rare occurrences could become more frequent signs of environmental stress.
Photos of the puffin have since circulated online, drawing attention from conservation communities across the region.
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