The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica), often called the Common Puffin, is a seabird in the Auk family. It’s most likely the name Common Puffin that makes us think that these iconic birds are prolific. For example with an estimated 9.5-11.5 million Atlantic Puffins in Europe, you might also be excused in thinking they are. However, in the last few years, their numbers have reduced drastically; by as much as 42% per year in some areas. So much so, that in 2015 the International Union for Conservation of Nature changed their status from “least concern” to “vulnerable”, and in 2018 Birdlife International registered them as being threatened with extinction.
As wildlife photographers, it is my firm belief that we should understand what we are photographing. Further, we should help raise public awareness of the hardship that wildlife faces. This article is therefore dedicated to the humble Atlantic Puffin.
Mankind – Atlantic Puffin’s Worst Enemy
The biggest threat to puffins is climate change caused by mankind. Rising sea temperatures have caused the fish that puffins eat to migrate north in large numbers. This combined with mankind’s overfishing has played a huge part in the puffin’s decline. Further, climate change has brought with it a redistribution of ground predators such as rats, wild cats, and mink. Pollution is another major issue. For example, in 1967, 85% of the puffin colonies in France were wiped out by the Torrey Canyon oil leak.
Puffins are also hunted for food, particularly in Iceland & the Faroe Islands. It is argued that this is done sustainably, however, with the population of puffins steadily declining year on year, this seems a weak argument.
Conservation Status
All of these factors have contributed to the continual decline of the entire species of birds, with reports of a steady reduction in their numbers since the 1960s.
Diet
Atlantic Puffins feed on small fish such as white bait. Puffins can swim quite adeptly, catching their prey by diving deep underwater and using their wings to propel themselves.
Habitat
Favoring open seas when not breeding. When nesting they favor grassy cliff-tops and islands, and sometimes boulders at the foot of cliffs. The Atlantic Puffin’s main breeding grounds are Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Newfoundland, Labrador, Faroe Islands, and the west of the UK.
Distribution data is a rough illustration based on UKG data.
Size & Appearance
Atlantic Puffins spend the autumn and winter months in the open oceans of the cold northern seas. The Atlantic puffins return to coastal waters in the late spring to start breeding. Nesting in clifftop colonies, breeding pairs typically burrow into the ground or use old rabbit burrows. The females lay a single egg which is incubated for 39 days.
Whilst puffins do not mate for life, they are quite monogamous. Breeding pairs very rarely change mates, and couples usually return to the same nesting sites year after year.
A puffin chick is called a puffling and takes only 6 weeks to be fully-fledged from hatching. The pufflings can eat whole fish, and when fully-fledged make their way into the sea. However, the juveniles are unable to fly, so instead tumble down the cliffs and into the sea. This they do at night to avoid gull and skua attacks. Once at sea, the juveniles learn to fish for themselves, as well as fly. Returning to their colony each year, but not breeding until they are at least 4 years old.
Longevity
Atlantic Puffins can live up to 20 years.
Natural Predators
Because colonies are predominantly on islands, puffins have no terrestrial predators. Puffins are known to fall prey to eagles, and young chicks are at risk of attacks by gulls and skuas. Even adult puffins sometimes fall victim to skuas harassing them to steal their food.
Where To Photograph Atlantic Puffins
Since Atlantic Puffins spend the Autumn and Winter months at sea, the Spring and Summer months are the most reliable way to spot them. Also, you can get glimpses of the birds from inland e.g. at the cliffs of Bempton. North Yorkshire, the most reliable way of photographing them up close, is on a dedicated puffin safari. Boat trips run from various locations in the UK.
If you are fortunate to visit them on a resident island, then you really can get up close. Puffins are less afraid of mankind than they are of predators, so they are not averse to photographers and nature watchers lying in the grass and watching them from only meters away.
Camera & Settings
If you are visiting an island, then you will only need a lens in the range of 100-400mm, as you can really get quite close to the birds. In these cases, you can get away with a shutter speed in the range of 1/250s to 1/500s. For longer-range shots a lens with a focal range of 500mm is beneficial and a shutter speed of at least 1/1000s if you are trying to capture in-flight shots.
References
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Distribution: JNCC Data
If you enjoyed this article, then please also check out my Puffin Gallery
