Page 45 - World of Animals - Issue #29
P. 45

Adult puffin
                                     D u r i n g t h e b r e e d i n g s e a s o n ,
                                     During the breeding season,
                                               fi
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                                     t the adult puffins are easily
                                      h
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                                     r recognisable thanks to their
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                                     brightly coloured beaks and
                                    feet. Both parents are involved
                                        in raising the chick.
                                     Part of the colony
                                  Lots of pairs of puffins gather

                                  together to nest and raise their
                                chicks, taking advantage of safety
                                         in numbers.
                                                      Burrow entrance
                                                While the adults are away hunting for

                                                 small fish, the young chicks hide in
                                                 burrows dug into the ground at the
                                               breeding site. Colonies can sometimes
                                                   appear completely deserted.    Fattening up                  Puffl ing


                                                                              The survival of the pufflings   Young puffins are known as


                                                                              depends on the availability   pufflings. When they first hatch

                                                                                of small oily fish in the   they are covered in fuzzy black-
                                                                              surrounding coastal waters.   grey down, and they gradually
                                                                               The adults take it in turns   develop the distinctive colouring
                                                                                     to hunt.                 of their parents.
                                                                                     “The colony moves
                                                                                      together, making it harder
                                                                                      for predators in the air to
                                                                                      single out individuals”











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