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Room For One More
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
The common name puffin describes any of three auk species (or alcids) in the bird genus Fratercula (Latin: little brother — probably a reference to their black and white plumage, which resembles monastic robes) with a brightly colored beak in the breeding season. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among rocks or in burrows in the soil.
All three puffin species have large bills. They shed the colourful outer parts of their bills after the breeding season, leaving 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 100 times per minute) in swift flight, often flying low over the ocean's surface.
The male Atlantic Puffin builds the nest and exhibits strong nest site fidelity. Both sexes of the Horned Puffin help to construct their nest. The burrows of the Atlantic and Horned Puffin are usually only about 1 metre (3 feet) deep, ending in a chamber, but the tunnel leading to a Tufted Puffin burrow may be up to 2.75 metres (9 feet) in length. The Atlantic Puffin burrow is usually lined with material such as grass, leaves and feathers but is occasionally unlined. The eggs of the Atlantic Puffin are creamy white but can be occasionally tinged in lilac.
Unlike many animals, puffins form long-term pair bonds. The female lays a single egg, and both parents incubate the egg and feed the chick. The incubating parent holds the egg against their brood patch with their wings. The chicks fledge at night. After fledging, the chicks spend the first few years of their lives at sea, returning to breed after three to seven years.
Like many auks, puffins eat both fish and zooplankton, but feed their chicks primarily with small marine fish several times a day. The puffins are distinct in their ability to hold several (sometimes over a dozen) small fishes at a time, crosswise in their bill. This allows them to take longer foraging trips, since they can come back with more energy for their chick than a bird that can only carry one fish at a time.
From Wikipedia |
shelbeesmom, Souvlakolikos, lilimih33 has marked this note useful
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- nicou
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 0 N: 2502]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(20416) - [2008-11-13 10:30]
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Hello,
superbe image de ces oiseua, avec un en plien vol, super captage.
Bravo et amitié
Nicou
What a great pic Mark! Love the blue, white and orange colors in this! They are so cute, I just want ONE!..my cats would love it too! Superb shot, nice work!
B-)
Linda
Hi Mark,
nicely framed, and good timing.
That's a really nice shot, the landing puffin really stands out nicely against the sea.
Well done
Colin
Bonjour Mark
Une vraie carte postale, très agréable à regarder.
Cordialement,
Antoine.
Hello Mark!
What a lovely scene here!
Excellent capture!
Beautiful colours and detail in your picture!
Best regards!
Lili
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3974 W: 1080 N: 10873]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(47924)![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 101 W: 39 N: 120]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
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