Saturday, August 19, 2017 To Feed A Horned Puffin Puffling

Seward, Alaska

I visited the Alaska Sealife Center and checked out the bird habitat as there’s always something interesting to see. I was just in time to watch a HORNED PUFFIN with four long, fat fish in her bill waddling and flapping determinedly over the rocks and driftwood. It was quite amazing to see those four fish lined up in her bill, just like the pictures. It wasn’t a record, but nonetheless impressive.

She headed for a red, wooden nest box where her 3-week old “puffling” waited. The box was not designed for puffins, but they chose it anyway. The hole was high, and the nearest piece of driftwood was a challenging distance away. She flapped for balance as she leaned towards the hole, calculating the distance and angle. As she caught her balance by resting her beak against the box, her darling all-black puffling popped its head out and tried to grab a tempting fish. He pulled hard, but mom would not let go. He tried again and again as mom maintained her grip and balance.

Meanwhile, dad who had been watching intently nearby suddenly reached out and grabbed one of her four fish. That was interesting! Did he snarf it down? Nope! Now both parents had fish for the baby and the bright-eyed fuzzy baby was hungry and getting hungrier by the minute.

Unlike many baby birds that instantly begin flapping and begging loudly when a parent appears, this puffing was very quiet but focused. It was almost weird how quiet they all were; not a peep or swear word!

After a long standstill, dad made a daring leap for the nest hole and disappeared inside. But when he came out headfirst, he still had the fish! After a while, he tried again. This time he managed to balance on the edge completely plugging the hole, and apparently fed his puffling. When the deed was done, he backed out and awkwardly fell down several feet to the ground in the gap between the box and the log. Oops!

After watching his stunt from a safe distance, mom sidled back down the log with her three fish to the nest box and peered anxiously at the hole. Again the hungry baby reached out and after a few tries, managed to grab the closest fish. He pulled so hard and she held on so tight, that he yanked momma off her precarious perch. Down she went, down the gap, just like dad.

After a while, she managed to flap-walk back to the log, still firmly clutching those three fish. Again the baby tried unsuccessfully to grab a fish, wondering if she was ever going to feed him. Mom made a valiant leap for the hole, SPLAT! missed, slid down the face and fell to the ground. Gosh, this was hard!

She returned and by golly, the same exact spectacle happened AGAIN! The baby was probably now wondering why she suddenly kept disappearing, and where she went with his dinner.

By this time, dad was back on the log, trying to snag another fish from mom, but she turned away just in time and flap-walked away to protect her stash. The dad followed, but she took a clever circuitous route back and reached the nest log first in a slow-speed chase. Once again, she peered into the hole, recalculating the distance and height. So serious for such a comical-looking bird!

Once again, the baby tried to grab a fish, and this time was successful! But he let go too soon; the fish teetered on the lip of the nest hole then fell to the ground. Another sudden and mysterious disappearance!

I couldn’t believe it when the baby grabbed one of the two remaining fish, pulled hard, and yanked mom off her perch AGAIN! Splat and crash! Down she went into the gap, a now popular slapstick routine.

In a short time, she was back on the log, as determined as ever. After more calculus, she made a brave leap to the hole and struggled mightily with her webbed feet and wings to get in. But it was not to be. Down she went through the gap to the ground. I felt so sorry for her, but had to stifle my laughter. It was so hilarious!

Such determination! She REALLY wanted to deliver those fish in person, in the box! Again, still clutching her two precious fish, she returned to the log. Flapping hard this time, she jumped again, hit the bulls-eye and sailed through the nest hole in one shot like a pro. YAY!!! Dinner is served!

After a minute, her head reappeared in the opening, as she sat contentedly, savoring the moment. Mission accomplished!

It took her 12 minutes of concentrated effort in all including one theft, one fish overboard, and several falls to deliver two of the four original fish to her puffling. Maybe next year, the devoted pair will choose a rocky ledge instead of a box. Or request a ramp!

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter





















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