| It is August on the coast of Iceland, and the air is | | | | during mating season; and the Atlantic puffin, the |
| filled with the deep garbled growls of hundreds of | | | | only puffin to live on the Atlantic Ocean, which |
| puffins. The social birds have come to shore for | | | | has a steel-blue triangle at the base of its beak. In |
| the short breeding season, and the rocky banks | | | | the 1800s over-hunting obliterated a native |
| are dotted with their squat, football-shaped bodies. | | | | population in Maine, which has since been restored. |
| From the ocean bursts a shiny five-year-old male | | | | They are not presently threatened. Puffin colonies |
| carrying a dozen small herring in his beak. Flapping | | | | are found breeding off the coasts of Alaska, |
| his wings mightily, he rises from the waves to the | | | | Canada, North America, and North Asia; although |
| rocky cliffs where a hungry chick waits silently in | | | | Iceland is the breeding quarters of the largest |
| a burrow hidden in the rocks. The puffin circles | | | | population of puffins. Coastlines are filled with |
| the sky above the burrow several times, looking | | | | thousands of breeding pairs during the summer |
| out for herring gulls, which sometimes wait ashore | | | | months. Puffins are monogamous, and while |
| to steal a puffin's catch. But the coast is clear and | | | | companions may part for the winter, which they |
| the puffin swoops down, entering the dark | | | | spend out on the open sea, they usually return to |
| burrow with a flurry. Instantly the chick springs to | | | | the same partner, and even the same nest. |
| life, demanding its meal with tiny squeals. Downy | | | | The rigorous mating ritual begins while the pair is |
| gray and plump, with a sliver of a beak, the chick | | | | still at sea. Breeding pairs engage in billing each |
| hardly resembles its striking black and white | | | | other, skypointing (flying straight up), and strutting. |
| father. Large and colorful beaks, which will fall off | | | | By the time birds reach the shore, partnerships |
| after the season is over, have given these arctic | | | | are well-established. The male digs the burrow |
| birds their nicknames-the sea parrot. | | | | using his beak to cut into the soil and his feet to |
| It was once questioned whether the pelagic puffin | | | | shovel the rocks and other loose material away. |
| was a cross between a bird and a fish. Awkward | | | | Ideally, the burrow will be 2-3 feet long and |
| and clumsy-looking on land, it certainly appears | | | | protected from predators by rocks. Here the |
| more adept in the sea, where its short wings | | | | female lays one egg per year. Together, the pair |
| effectively propel it through the water after small | | | | incubates the egg, each taking a turn holding it |
| herring and sand eels. Its webbed feet function as | | | | under one wing and pressing it against its body. |
| a rudder, allowing the bird to maneuver sharp | | | | Cooperating in this way, both birds are able to |
| turns. Puffins can fly, and will actually beat their | | | | leave the nest to feed. |
| wings 100-400 beats per minute to become | | | | When the egg hatches 40-53 days later, the |
| airborne. But because of the effort required to | | | | parents continue to share responsibility for the |
| take flight, puffins will nest on cliffs where they | | | | chick. Feeding occurs four to five times a day, |
| more easily swoop down into the ocean. Puffins | | | | and after the first day of life the chick can be left |
| fly low to the water, and can reach speeds up to | | | | alone in the burrow to wait for its next meal. The |
| 55 miles per hour. | | | | chick remains in the burrow about 40-55 days, |
| A puffin's diet comes from the icy depths of the | | | | whereupon it waits until evening before |
| ocean, and an average dive can last twenty or | | | | independently approaching the opening of the |
| thirty seconds, or more. With their specialized | | | | burrow for the first time. The fledgling sets out to |
| beaks, puffins are able to hold several fish at a | | | | sea on its own, where it will live for the next two |
| time. Their raspy tongues hold fish against spines | | | | years. Puffins reach sexual maturity at 3 years |
| on their palate while they open their beak for | | | | old, but will not generally return to their nesting |
| more. An average catch would be 10-12 fish, but | | | | grounds to mate until 4-5 years old. Puffins live |
| one puffin reportedly brought 62 fish in its beak | | | | long lives of 20 years or more. |
| at one time! Waterproof feathers provide | | | | Historically humans have used the puffin for meat |
| protection from the chill of even the coldest | | | | and clothing (its skin is waterproof and warm |
| waters in the arctic region. Even its coloration | | | | when worn with the feathers turned inside), but |
| lends to its survival in the sea. The puffin's dark | | | | hunting is generally discouraged today. In some |
| coloring on its back make it difficult for predators | | | | countries it is forbidden by law. Meanwhile, man |
| to distinguish it from the dark waves as it floats | | | | has come to value puffins as indicators of ocean |
| on the ocean, while from below its white | | | | health. By observing the condition of the puffin |
| underside masks it from ocean enemies. This | | | | population, scientists determine whether |
| deceptive coloring is called counter shading. | | | | over-fishing or harmful pollution is taking place. Oil |
| Around the world it is estimated that 12-15 million | | | | spills threaten puffins by de-waterproofing their |
| puffins exist as three species: The horned puffin, | | | | feathers, making them vulnerable to cold |
| named for its horny projections above its eyes; | | | | temperatures. Another negative impact on puffin |
| the tufted puffin, which has conspicuous | | | | colonies has been the unintentional introduction of |
| straw-colored feathers extending from its crown | | | | rats and foxes to summer nesting areas. |