THE first thing you notice as the boat nears the rugged coastline of Inner Farne is the noise.

It’s all-engulfing. All around and from every angle comes a cacophony of sound.

Birds seem to cover every inch of rock. Just as many are in the air, whirling around above our heads or heading to and from the surrounding sea with beaks full of sand eels.

It’s a sight that has changed little over countless decades, certainly since the National Trust began to care for these natural wonders 90 years ago.

One of the first Sites of Special Scientific Interest in 1951, the islands, off Seahouses on the Northumberland coast, were then declared a National Nature Reserve in 1993.

In addition to the thousands of seabirds there is a

As well as guiding the many visitors around the island, the small but dedicated human population spend much of their time collating information about the avian population.

Whether it’s negotiating the dive-bombing terns to count chicks, thrusting their arms up to the shoulder into puffin burrows or leaning over the sheer cliff faces to monitor kittiwake nests, there’s always something to keep them occupied.

There’s more in-depth research too, such as the current projects carried out in conjunction with Leeds and Newcastle Universities, studying the foraging behaviour of shags and geotagging arctic terns.

Assistant ranger Ed Tooth is one of those who call the islands home.

His role has perhaps changed little in the time the National Trust has been here. Though there are a few more home comforts.

“We have solar panels, we have electricity and there’s a log burning fire,” he said. “Before they didn’t have any of those luxuries, it was very much a more brutal existence.”

While the National Trust can do its best to preserve the landmass of the Farnes they cannot do much about the surrounding seas and the changing climate.

“Charities such as the National Trust can look after the breeding grounds, but the real risk comes from threat to feeding grounds and the availability of food,” said Ed. “We have seen this year that the terns have suffered from a lack of food."

Puffins, though hardy little birds, are very susceptible to changes in food availability or adverse weather, as the rangers have found this year.

“Food availability for them has been fine, but we have had a couple of really big storms come through,” said Ed.

While the birds that have made it this far appear to be thriving on their island home, Ed said there was concern for future generations.

“Seabirds have evolved to cope (with adverse conditions). A lot of them live for a very long time and so they are very prepared for when they do not have good years and cannot raise chicks,” Ed said. “But what we are seeing is the potential for more bad years than good years and that’s when we start to worry.”

The hope, though, is that through good stewardship, the Farnes will remain the jewel it undoubtedly is for another 90 years at least.

“That’s the dream,” said Ed.