Conclusion
While limited to a small sample size, the results of this study markedly
advance our understanding of a vulnerable period in the non-breeding
season of a threatened species. We raise the intriguing possibility that
puffins have a unique biannual flightless moult, leaving them flightless
for 60-80 days over the course of a single non-breeding season,
accounting for 20-30% of that total period. This highly unusual
strategy may be tied to migration effort, though this is speculative due
to our limited sample size. However, we have established a freely
available workflow to further analyse dual-equipped seabirds to improve
behaviour classification using geolocators. We hope this will promote
further research on the flightless moult of puffins and other alcids,
given that this life stage that leaves them are particularly vulnerable
to antagonistic impacts from reduced prey availability, surface
pollution and increased storm prevalence.