Puffin enthusiasts and ornithologists are excited by the news that unusually large numbers of pufflings, adolescent puffins, called pysja in Icelandic, have been caught and rescued in the town of Vestmannaeyjar on the Vestmannaeyjar islands off the south coast of Iceland. The pufflings have also been unusually well fed, suggesting the summer has been bountyful for these friendly little birds.
Read more: A puffin chick is called a pysja: the life and adventurers of the adolescent puffin
The puffin population in the Vestmannaeyjar islands, home to the most important puffin colonies in the world, has been in decline for the past several years. The large number of chicks is thus welcome news to all puffin friends.
The annual puffling rescue
During September and October the puffins leave shore for the open sea where they spend the rest of autumn and winter. For the young birds that hatched in the spring this first journey of their lives can be both challenging and dangerous. The adolescent pysja are still unfamiliar with the ocean, and many mistake the lights from towns as the moon and stars reflecting off the sea. Instead of heading off to the open ocean they therefore fly into towns. Rescuing these wayward pufflings is therefore a major challenge in the fall.
This is especially important in the town of Vestmannaeyjar, as the islands are home to one of the largest puffin colonies in the world. The puffin rescue is primarily handled by the children and teens of the town.
Unusually good puffin-year
The local newspaper Eyjafréttir reports that this year 1,724 pufflings have been rescued in the town. All of the pysja have been released back to the ocean after being measured and weighed.
The measurements show that the adolescent birds are in better shape this year than most previous years. The heaviest pysja measured yesterday, was 287 g (13.65 ounces), which is considered quite a lot, when it comes to pysja, Eyjafréttir notes.
Puffin enthusiasts and ornithologists are excited by the news that unusually large numbers of pufflings, adolescent puffins, called pysja in Icelandic, have been caught and rescued in the town of Vestmannaeyjar on the Vestmannaeyjar islands off the south coast of Iceland. The pufflings have also been unusually well fed, suggesting the summer has been bountyful for these friendly little birds.
Read more: A puffin chick is called a pysja: the life and adventurers of the adolescent puffin
The puffin population in the Vestmannaeyjar islands, home to the most important puffin colonies in the world, has been in decline for the past several years. The large number of chicks is thus welcome news to all puffin friends.
The annual puffling rescue
During September and October the puffins leave shore for the open sea where they spend the rest of autumn and winter. For the young birds that hatched in the spring this first journey of their lives can be both challenging and dangerous. The adolescent pysja are still unfamiliar with the ocean, and many mistake the lights from towns as the moon and stars reflecting off the sea. Instead of heading off to the open ocean they therefore fly into towns. Rescuing these wayward pufflings is therefore a major challenge in the fall.
This is especially important in the town of Vestmannaeyjar, as the islands are home to one of the largest puffin colonies in the world. The puffin rescue is primarily handled by the children and teens of the town.
Unusually good puffin-year
The local newspaper Eyjafréttir reports that this year 1,724 pufflings have been rescued in the town. All of the pysja have been released back to the ocean after being measured and weighed.
The measurements show that the adolescent birds are in better shape this year than most previous years. The heaviest pysja measured yesterday, was 287 g (13.65 ounces), which is considered quite a lot, when it comes to pysja, Eyjafréttir notes.
