The Atlantic Puffin is a small, pigeon-sized seabird which lives on the open ocean throughout the majority of the year, breeding in colonies on northern seacoasts and rocky islands from April to mid-August. Puffins lay one egg that is incubated in turn by each adult for approximately 40 days. The adults feed the chick fish for approximately 45 days, although that period may be longer depending on the quality and abundance of the fishing resources nearby.

Puffins live at sea and are well adapted to this lifestyle. They are excellent swimmers, using their wings to essentially ‘fly’ underwater while using their feet to control direction. They hunt a variety of small fish including herring, capelin and sand lance. Puffins do not come to land outside of the breeding season, flying, swimming or riding the ocean surface throughout the year regardless of weather.

The Atlantic Puffin is the only species of puffin found on the Atlantic coast. The other species of puffin, of which there are three, occur only in the Pacific. These pictures were shot on Machias Seal Island located on the Bay of Fundy, 9 miles off the coast of Maine (U.S).

Sovereignty of the island is disputed with ownership claimed by both Canada and the United States. The Canadian Coast Guard staffs a lighthouse on the island. Ralph Eldridge, one of the lighthouse keepers has an interesting site on Pbase at: www.pbase.com/lightrae

The Machias island colony supports (in 2010) a breeding colony of about 3,000 pairs of puffins.
Puffins, when on land, are extremely social and are a real treat to observe… I recommend the Machias seal island tour to anyone.

Gallery created on August 07 2010.