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These horned puffins were photographed south of Seward, Alaska near the Kenai Fjords. These four birds are just part of a large colony. Ralph LaPlant Photo

Of all the birds I have photographed, the horned puffin is one of the prettiest and, at the same time, oddest in appearance. I traveled to the Kenai Fjords south of Seward, Alaska in July of 2004 and was disappointed with my photographs of these birds, as the weather was overcast and it was too dark to help produce adequate images. My trip in August of 2005 yielded better results due to my digital photography gear that allowed me to do change ISO ratings whenever I felt the need. The result… much better images. With that mentioned, I will attempt to inform you about the puffins.
    In the US and Canada there are three species of puffins. On the sheashores of Maine and the Maritime Provences there is the Atlantic Puffin. On both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean there are the tufted and the horned puffins. The worldwide puffin population is estimated at between 12 to 15 million birds. These birds are about 10 inches tall and weigh in at about 12 ounces. They have a very colorful beak. The only difference between males and females is the former is slightly larger.
    Puffin meant “fatly.” This name was given as the puffins chicks were mistaken for chubby Manx Shearwater chicks. The name stuck. A more common nickname is “Sea Parrot,” which is commonly used to this day.
    Puffins breed, as a rule, at age five in early June. It is a possibility that the brightest colored beaked birds mate with each other. They will then build nests in a tunnel that is from two to ten feet deep on rocky crests. They sometimes will use their feet to help excavate this nest burrow that will usually be used year after year. They mate for life, as a rule. One brownish-white or white or egg is laid (eggs can vary from this coloration) and both parents nurture the chick.
Puffins prefer fish as a main diet. They will carry smaller fish in their mouths to the nest to feed their chick, with both parents nurturing. The record number of fish carried for this purpose (known) is 62! Young usually leave the nest in about to 38 days.
    Puffins can dive for about a half a minute under water. They use their wings to push themselves and their feet act as rudders. They fly about 50 miles per hour with wings beating up to 400 times per minute, which helps to explain whey they are somewhat difficult to photograph in flight.
    As with many birds, puffins have use body language. Because they often live in colonies, there may be crowds of puffins observing others’ displays. Gaping is used as an aggressive posture. Puffins will puff up their bodies and open their wings and beaks slightly to look larger. They sometimes stomp their feet. Fights have been so involved that both participants have fallen off of ledges and into the water.
    Puffins have adapted to where they can spend months at sea as they have waterproof feathers and can drink seawater. The greatest enemy of the puffin is the Great black-backed gull. They will dive-bomb a colony of puffins and latch onto a puffin from behind. They have also been seen nabbing them in mid-air. Herring gulls have been known to steal food from the puffins after they bring it back to land. With all these predators, the puffin populations still do well.
    In the past, humans had a negative effect on puffins. Over fishing has hurt the puffins’ food source. In the past, over-hunting has hurt populations to the point of near extinction. These birds need solitude for breeding and as a result, tourism is controlled and we all need to do what we can to prevent pollution, another puffin enemy.
    Where legally hunted, puffins are food for humans. Their average life span is 20 years with some living to age 29.