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Witless Bay Ecological Reserve Day 8 of Our Newfoundland Adventure-Puffins & Razorbills

August 23, 2016  •  Leave a Comment

Atlantic Puffins and Razorbills are elegant birds notable for their specialized and decorated bills.

The Atlantic Puffin is a small bird about eleven inches long, perhaps a tad larger than an American Robin. The serrated bill allows it continue fishing while holding onto its earlier catch.

The Atlantic Puffin lives for about 30 years and does not breed until its three to six years old. It is the provincial bird of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Razorbill is the closest living relative of the Great Auk and at 17 inches in length is larger than the Atlantic Puffin.

As usual both species have been decimated by man or its minions of rats and dogs introduced onto breeding islands.

Atlantic Puffin

NFLDay8-7NFLDay8-7 The Atlantic Puffin burrows into the soft soil of steep hillsides sometimes three metres deep, all in an effort to deter predators. We didn't see any chicks or adults carrying food so it is likely the eggs have not hatched yet.

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Razorbill

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This is my favourite photo.

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