The findings show that by using the strong tidal currents in the Irish Sea, the birds save up to 46% of their usual energy usage.
Researchers looked at the specialised feeding behaviour of GPS-tracked puffins based on Little Saltee island off Co Wexford. They found the birds use the strong tidal currents in the region for a 'free ride' across feeding areas, saving them considerable energy.The two-year study was carried out by MaREI - Science Foundation Ireland's research centre for energy, climate and marine - and the Zoological Society of London.
Previous seabird tracking studies have shown that birds travel between often distant feeding areas at sea and the effort to fly between these sites can be considerable, particularly for puffins whose wings are short and adapted for swimming underwater and searching for their preferred food, sandeels.
The study's lead author, Ashley Bennison, a researcher at MaREI, said "Our puffins have completely dispensed with the need to fly between patches of food, instead using strong tidal currents in the Irish Sea to move them between patches of fish at sea".