Puffin population may appear to be thriving, but more research needed, experts warn

Puffins on Saltee Island off Co Wexford, one of Irelands major bird sanctuaries home to puffins, gannets, guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, great black-backed gulls, kittiwakes and manx shearwaters. Picture: PA

The puffin population in Ireland may appear to be thriving, but more research is needed to assess how they are breeding, bird experts say.

According to the last available figures, there are an estimated 21,000 pairs of puffins in Ireland, which can mostly be seen along its west coast.