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 The ground nesting habit of this species makes it particularly susceptible to predation by mink, which explains its disappearance from many Argyll islands, including Iona.
The largest NTS colony is on Fair Isle with 1250 pairs. In some years, breeding success is severely hampered by shortage of its main food – sandeels.
Food: Plunge dives for fish to a depth of 0.5 m. Small fish, including Sand eels, Herring, Sprat, Capelin and Sticklebacks.
Nest Site: On shingle, sand, storm beaches, and low rocky shores where it makes a shallow depression.
Breeding: May to mid June where they lay 1-3 eggs.
Wintering: Performs the most extensive migratory movement of any bird where the main wintering zone is in the Antarctic.
Distribution: UK, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Spitsbergen, Franz Jossef Land, Bear Island and Jan Mayen Island.
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