Fratercula arctica - Puffin
Phylum: Chordata - Class: Aves - Order: Charadriiformes - Family: Alcidae
Identification - Distribution - Lifecycle - Food - Predators - Reference Sources
These lovely seabirds are fond of cliffs and boulder-strewn islands with grassy slopes. On the western shores of Britain Puffins are a common and delightful sight for summer hikers along the coastal paths. Their distinctive parrot-like beaks make these birds very easy to identify.
Puffins are gregarious and often set up large breeding colonies. Our favourite place for watching Puffins is Skomer Island, a national nature Reserve off the coast of Pembrokeshire. It is possible to visit the island for either a day or for a few days with overnight accommodation on the island, which is managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.
Sandeels, and to a lesser extent other small fish, are the staple diet of Puffins, and so anything that puts this food source in jeopardy is a great threat to the future of these iconic seabirds.
Please Help Us: If you have found this information interesting and useful, please consider helping to keep First Nature online by making a small donation towards the web hosting and internet costs.
Any donations over and above the essential running costs will help support the conservation work of Plantlife, the Rivers Trust and charitable botanic gardens - as do author royalties and publisher proceeds from books by Pat and Sue.