fredag 1 juli 2011

Life of Puffins / Lunde

The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a very popular species, both among nature photographers, bird-watchers, and other visitors to the areas where puffins may be seen. Right now, the breeding season is at its height along the Norwegian coast and around the breeding colonies, puffins can be seen flying back and forth with food to feed their chicks.

They nest in burrows on grassy cliffs and only spend time on land during the breeding season. The large and colourful beak is equipped with hooks, allowing the puffins to catch several fish in the beak before returning to land. On the pictures below it looks like most birds here in Vesterålen, Norway bring sand-eels and small herring back to feed their young.



Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)



Puffins on their nesting grounds



Puffin-burrows on a grassy cliff



Puffins out at sea



Most of the puffins in Vesterålen seem to return from the sea with sand-eels or herring

5 kommentarer:

  1. Nydelige bilder av lunden. Så fint du har laget innlegget. Det er nok favoritt fuglen min. På Runde så vi nesten ikke fugler med fisk i nebbet. Tror det går dårlig med ungene i år også. Flere lunder er sett inn i fjordene så da er vel mattilgangen liten ved selve øya. Bra jobbet med bilder og tekst.

    SvaraRadera
  2. Fine skildringer fra lundenes daglige liv. Portettet var bra.

    Knut Børge

    SvaraRadera
  3. Takk for kommentarer.

    Ja, dessverre sliter mange lundekolonier langs kysten, ikke minst på Røst og Runde. Disse bildene er fra Anda i Nordland og både i denne kolonien og den andre store kolonien i Nordland (Bleik) ser det heldigvis ut å gå litt bedre. Mange lunder kommer inn med tobis fra lokale bestand. Noen hadde også småsild, øyepål(?), og små flyndrer med seg inn fra sjøen, men jeg tror tobisen spiller en avgjørende rolle for Nordland-koloniene når silden svikter...

    /Fredrik

    SvaraRadera
  4. Thanks a million for sharing this interesting documentary, Fredrik.

    I am a nature photographer, so I will take notes of this interesting explanation about the habits of the puffin.

    I love puffins and nothern lights, so I was glad when I found your blog. By the way... What a spectacular image is the head photo of your blog. It´s AMAZING!

    Norway is one of the most beautiful paradises for nature lovers. I like to contemplate for hours photos of Norwegian landscapes of spectacular beauty...And my favourite composer is Edvard Grieg. Many times I relax by listening Morgenstimmung. In other words, I love Norway.

    Warmest Geetings from Andalusia (Southern Spain).

    SvaraRadera
  5. @ charrancito

    Thanks for your kind words - I will put out many more bird-related posts soon, but have to find the time.

    I am also not from Norway originally (coming from Sweden), but "got stuck here" in Norway after falling in love with the auroras and the mountains and the marine wildlife...

    All the best from Northern Norway

    Fredrik

    SvaraRadera