11 pm. Dark sky. Windy but crisp air. Ears perked. Eyes alert. Gloves on to reduce hand oil.
This is what a night on Puffin Patrol (technically “puffling patrol”) in Iceland is like.
A Bit About Puffins…
With 8-10 million puffins, Iceland is home to 60% of the world’s entire population of these phenomenal creatures. The Lundi (Icelandic word for puffin) are so beloved that can be found decorating gift shops and tourism buildings across Iceland, but they are perhaps most famous on the island of Heimaey (one of the Westman Islands), off the coast of southern Iceland.
What Is Puffling Patrol?
Here, if you visit during late August/early September, you can partake in what the local children call “Puffling Patrol.” Puffins come here in May to breed each year along the coastal cliffs, but when it’s time for their fledglings (affectionately known as pufflings) to leave the nest and head out to sea, they confuse the lights of the city for the moon and end up lost and wandering the city streets helplessly.
Because they are endangered and each female only has one puffling a year, their survival is crucial.
A long-standing tradition passed down from generations of islanders is to rescue the lost pufflings late at night (especially the local children), take them to the Sea Life Center to be examined and weighed, then to release them on the open ocean the next morning. Over the years, islanders have saved thousands upon thousands of pufflings this way.
So… How Did We Do?
We managed to catch 4 — 2 of which we found on the way to the harbor and on the walk back to our AirBnB… the little guys were simply waddling down the street or sitting in corners. They are surprisingly easy to catch. Their beaks aren’t what hurt if they peck you — it’s their little feet claws you need to watch for and hold tight!
To see how we released them into the wild, click here. We set them free again on open sea during a boat tour… definitely an experience we won’t forget!
P.S. – A bite from a full-grown puffin will cost you a finger, so please don’t approach them in the wild. They are still wild animals.
*Notes about Puffins:
These hardy birds — nicknamed “sea parrots” or “clowns of the sea” due to their funny appearance — spend most of their lives at sea in the North Atlantic, resting on the waves.
They can live 20-25 years and are renowned divers, able to dive up to 200 feet deep with their aerodynamic bodies and bone structure (not hollow like most birds). Though they only hold their breath about 30 seconds underwater at a time, they can flap their wings about 400 times per minute!
Their coloring starts white and changes as they grow older. The famous colorful beaks are also a mature characteristic, but in truth, the orange color isn’t present until breeding season to help attract a mate.
Adorably, puffins are monogamous and mate for life, meeting in the same location with their partner each year. Talk about true love! ♥️
Is there a place to sign up for puffin rescue? I assume there’s some training?
Hi Sue! We did not receive any training, nor were we told we needed any. We did ask for advice from local business owners (ex: how to safely grab the birds, where to take them in the morning, etc) before acquiring boxes and going out to search for them at night. You can also simply tag along with the locals to watch or help out. I’m sure the puffin rescue center would also provide insight. We hope this helps!
Rescuing the puffins has been on the bucket list of both my sister-in-law and myself since we taught a story about it to our students from the fourth grade reading book anthology. We are planning to embark on this adventure next August and are delighted to see this detailed post. Would you be willing to share the contact or even the name for the lodgings you used in Heimaey? Thank you, Two Retired Teachers
Hi Cindy, thanks for reaching out! You will absolutely LOVE this trip and the puffin rescue experience. It’s unlike anything we’ve done here in the United States, especially when it comes to wildlife. Make sure you check out this related post if you haven’t already (https://bornindefiance.com/setting-baby-puffins-free-westman-islands/) with some additional details. As for where we stayed specifically in Heimaey, it was all AirBnBs, so it’s hard to share links. We stayed in Vestmannaeyjabaer specifically, but our hosts were terrific. Everyone there was friendly and helpful. We have quite a few other posts on planning your Iceland trip, so let us know if you need further assistance. 🙂 Best of luck planning!