Sunday, June 30, 2013

P is for PUFFIN (at last)


Puffins are any of the three species of alcis (auks) in the bird genus Fratercula with a brightly coloured beak during the breeding season.  These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving into the water.  They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands. nesting in cervices among rocks or in burrows in the soil.  Two species. the Tufted Puffin and Homed Puffin, are found in the North Pacific Ocean, while the Atlantic Puffin is found in the North Atlantic Ocean.


All puffin species have predominantly black or black and white plumage, a stock build, and large beaks.  They shed the colourful outer parts of their bills after the breeding season, leaing a smaller and duller beak.  Their short wings are adapted for swimming with a flying technique under water.  In the air, they beat their wings rapidly (up to 400 times a minute) in swift flight, often fling low over the ocean's surface.


Puffins breed in colonies on coasts and islands; several current or former breeding sites are referred to as Pufflin Island.  The male Atlantic Puffin builds the nest and exhibits strong nest-site fidelity,  Both sexes of the Horned Puffin help toconstrcut their nest.  Horned Puffin burrows are usually about 1 meter (3 feet) deep.

I think everyone knows quite a lot about puffins.  I think they are real clowns so I just wanted so share a few more pictures with you.  To me they are magical.






10 comments:

  1. They look magical to me too. I love the look of them in flight. Thank you Mimsie for sharing. B

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are magic!! I've only ever seen them on film but could watch their antics all day. I enjoyed sharing these little fellows. xx

      Delete
  2. They are such an impossible looking bird - with so much charm.
    Thank you, thank you, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so welcome. I couldn't leave them out of the list. They are adorable. I hope all your preparations for next week are well in hand. Thinking of you both and hoping all goes really well.

      Delete
  3. I love Puffins. They are so much cuter and more comical than Penguins. I remember the novels we were given to read in school were mostly from the Puffin publishing company and each book had a little Puffin on the spine and sometimes on the front cover too. I didn't know the coloured bills were only for the mating season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That bit about the coloured bills caught me unawares too. All the film I've ever seen has shown the orange coloured bills. I didn't know there was a Puffin publishing company. You see, we live and learn every day don't we?

      Delete
    2. I think the Puffin Company is defunct now, later school books were Penguin.

      Delete
  4. They are adorable, they look like there should be a movie about them, love them. Thank you xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so glad you enjoyed them Rae. I wonder why they don't appear more in story books. They are so quaint with their various antics that a good story writer could do marvels with them. You are welcome. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. i LOVE Puffins! They don't look real do they? More like something a fabulous imagination has dreamed up!

    ReplyDelete