How it fits into North Yorkshire wildlife
Puffins are one of the most recognisable seabirds linked to the cliffs and offshore waters of the Yorkshire coast. Their lives depend on safe burrows for nesting and on nearby seas holding enough sand eels to feed growing chicks.
How it interacts with the wider landscape
They are tightly bound to the health of marine food webs. If seas warm and sand eel numbers fall, puffins struggle quickly, making them one of the clearest wildlife signals of change in the North Sea.
Seasonal rhythm
They come ashore for the breeding season in spring and summer, then spend much of the rest of the year out at sea where people rarely see them.
Where to look and what to notice
Look for compact black-and-white seabirds on cliff ledges or the sea below, and for quick wingbeats when they fly low over the water.