If you love birds and dream of living close to nature, now is the time to act. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is looking for volunteers to help count puffins on Skomer Island. The Count puffins Skomer application deadline for the main long-term roles is today at 23:59 UK time. This is a real chance to stay on a beautiful island for free while doing important work for wildlife.
Skomer Island is a small national nature reserve covering only about 1.13 square miles off the coast of Pembrokeshire in Wales. It is famous worldwide for its large number of seabirds. Every year, thousands of Atlantic puffins come here to breed. These cute birds with bright orange beaks and funny walks make their homes in burrows on the cliffs and grassy areas. Skomer has one of the biggest puffin colonies in the UK, with over 40,000 puffins counted in recent years. The island also has hundreds of thousands of Manx shearwaters, plus guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and other birds. The sea around Skomer is protected, which helps keep the birds safe and gives them plenty of fish to eat.
Puffins are special, but they face big problems in many places because of less food, warmer seas, and other changes in the environment. Places like Skomer give scientists important information by tracking how many puffins live, breed, and raise their young. That is why volunteers are needed to count puffins every season. The Count puffins Skomer application is open right now for people who want to help with this work.
The Wildlife Trust runs the island and needs helpers for 2026. There are three long-term volunteer spots. Each one lasts about three months:
- March 28 to July 4
- April 25 to August 1
- July 4 to September 30
There is also one shorter role for seabird monitoring from May 23 to June 23. This shorter job focuses more on counting birds.
What do volunteers do? A lot of the job is to count puffins Skomer style – that means walking around the island to watch burrows, counting birds coming back at night, and sometimes going out on boats to count from the sea. In spring, the main task is puffin counts and other seabird surveys. Later in the year, volunteers check how many chicks survive and watch grey seals with their pups. They also look for other animals like the special Skomer vole, butterflies, moths, and whales or dolphins in the water.
Volunteers do not just count birds. They help run the island every day. This includes fixing paths, keeping things clean, and talking to visitors. About 25,000 people come to Skomer each year by boat for day trips. Volunteers welcome them, answer questions, and make sure everyone respects the wildlife. There are no cars on the island, so life is simple and close to nature.
The best thing about these roles is that you live for free. The Wildlife Trust gives free accommodation on the island, including lights and heat. They pay back your travel costs within the UK, even parking fees. You also get a small amount of money – around £400 for the long roles and £200 for the short ones. There is money for training too, like learning to use tools safely or first aid. They give you work clothes, safety gear, and binoculars.
But life on Skomer is not easy for everyone. The island is far from shops or towns. The ground is hilly with steep paths. The weather can be windy, rainy, or cold. You work outside a lot, so you need to be fit and okay with being away from normal life. You must be at least 18 years old. The Trust cannot help with visas, so only people who can live and work in the UK should apply.
If this sounds exciting, send your Count puffins Skomer application soon. For the long-term roles, the deadline is tonight, January 31, 2026, at 23:59 UK time. The seabird monitoring role has more time, until February 28.
To apply, go to the Wildlife Trust website at welshwildlife.org. Look for the page called “Skomer Island Long-Term Volunteering – 2026 APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN.” Download the form and the role details. Fill it out with why you want the job and what skills you have. Email it to skomer.volunteer@welshwildlife.org. Use the right subject line, as they say on the site. Check the full details there because they explain everything clearly.
Many people want these spots because they are a special way to help nature. You get to see puffins up close every day, walk on quiet paths, watch sunsets over the sea, and know your work helps protect birds for the future. It is hard work, but it is also a big adventure.
Do not wait if you are interested. The Count puffins Skomer application window is closing fast for the main positions. Visit the website today, read about the roles, and send your form. This could be the start of an amazing time living on Skomer Island, surrounded by puffins and fresh sea air.How the Impact of AI on Copper Prices in 2026 Is Changing the Market Forever
For more information or to start your Count puffins Skomer application, head straight to welshwildlife.org/volunteering-opportunities. Good luck – maybe you will be the next person counting puffins on this wonderful island!welshwildlife.org