#613: Puffin

 

The Puffin are a Family of pelagic sea birds, consisting of three species. He dives for his prey - small fish and zooplankton - using his short wings to navigate underwater. Rather than swallowing and reguigitating fish for his offspring, he carries it crosswise in his specially-adapted beak. In this manner he can carry over a dozen small fish. He forms a long term monogamous bond with his mate, and their nest is constructed in a colony on the coast.

Although this Atlantic Puffin is not currently considered under threat, his life cycle is largely tied with the herring. Increasingly, less and less Puffin chicks are fleding and colonies are shrinking. Their food supply is declining, with rising ocean temperatures and over-fishing having a noticeable impact. Since 2005, the largest breeding colony in the Westman Islands, has been a total failure.

Learn more about this alarming trend here:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140827-seabird-puffin-tern-iceland-ocean-climate-change-science-winged-warning/