Seal Island Puffin Burrow Cam - Millie returns after a long sojourn away from the nest!
Just in time, as dad Willie left 7 hours ago for food, after a long time on nesting duties.
Audubon Celeste (mod) postIt has been a blustery week on Seal Island! Our puffins are handling the weirdly inclement weather by floating on the sea, or else staying in their burrows to incubate eggs. By now, many of the Seal Island puffin burrows contain in them an egg—including, of course, Willie and Millie’s burrow #59.
There was concern in the chat last week about Millie’s long absence from the burrow, and understandably so. The Seal Island team and I discussed the extended sojourn briefly before I left the island (sigh!) and we agreed it could be a harbinger for a strange and maybe tough season, forage-fish wise.
However- seabirds are remarkably adaptive animals. Their bodies are built for harsh climates, for long periods on open ocean, and for hunting far below the surface of the water. Millie’s extended absence and Willie’s unwavering time with the egg is a testament to the resilience of the puffins. These birds determinedly remain on their eggs for days, forgoing food for the sake of continuing the puffin lineage. When we start seeing pufflings hatch in the burrows, it’ll be all the more imperative for the puffins to find and bring back food for their young.
This week, let's keep our puffins in mind as they forage, dive, and search for food. It can be tough out there for a puffin, but these little birds and their colorful bills are tough as the granite rocks they loaf on!
Willie exits from the old entrance near #789.
Gone Fishing
Good morning Beakers!
Hi Blschue, Lilbro, Lori, Clynn, Tsk, Lisa, Karen, Oldguy, Puff, Eagles, Kb, Tig, Baz, Phyl, Peep, Jaspurr, Pink, Jilltosa, BL, Eburg, Weasel, Ezee, Bggolden, T40, ssrl, Maxie, Nrstooge, Omasawyer, Paulie and All!We've continued to have early morning temps of mid-high 40's, it's very unusual to be this cold this time of year. High will be 78 today.
Well, at least we don't have to have the AC on.
Kb, that flying squirrel! LOL!!
... {{{hugs}}}
Tsk, 70 for your appreciation dinner is a good sign that everyone was ready for a party. LOL! They just want to get out whether chilly or not... good luck with eye appt. I need new glasses too. I missed last fall's checkup, between Mike's physical problems and Aly's graduation I just forgot.
Clynn,talons crossed with the pc... wonderful photo of Erin and Sydney! They've gotten some sun and look very happy. Love her outfit.
... lots of prayers from the Hellgate watchers for Iris to accept this new male. Everyone wishes he would just bring her a fish. She's been begging him for food as a sign of loyalty to her.
Phyl, thanks for interesting article from LiveScience... Hellgate Osprey Iris arrived in early April.... Hellgate chatters are praying she will accept a new mate this year, as her old mate Louis has another mate and nest nearby that he is loyal to. He just visits to dominate her and steal her fish.... Iris has given up three eggs (Louis) this season to the ravens. Since she cannot tend to eggs and feed herself at the same time, she is willing to sacrifice her eggs to the ravens and crows. So we pray she will accept this new male, everyone wishes he would bring her fish as a sign of hope for a mate for her.
