Locals throw baby puffins off clifftops on a remote island in Iceland to help the stray birds take flight

James PasleyApr 2, 2023, 20:46 IST

A child throws a puffin off a cliff in Iceland.Eric Chretien/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Iceland's remote Westland Islands are home to the world's largest puffin colony.
Every year, puffin chicks get disorientated by light pollution and crash inland rather than flying out to sea.

Every year during the late summer, locals on a remote island off the coast of Iceland spend their evenings searching for disorientated puffin chicks — known as pufflings — and throw them off a cliff's edge.

Light pollution can confuse the pufflings, causing them to fly inland instead of out to sea.

Puffins are a national treasure in Iceland, which has the largest colony in the world, but for decades, their numbers have been dwindling.

About 43 miles off the southern coast of Iceland are the Westman Islands, a collection of windswept, volcanic remote islands.

A. view of the inlet gorge of Heimaey Harbor in 2018.Mahaux Charles/AGF/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

The largest of these islands is called Heimaey. It covers about five square miles and is the only inhabited island with a population of about 4,400 people.

An aerial view of Town of Heimaey, Iceland, covered in fog.Marli Miller/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The Westland Islands are known for two things. The first is a violent, unexpected volcanic eruption that occurred in 1973 after the volcano had lain dormant for 7,000 years.

The volcanic eruption on Heimaey Island in 1973.Fred Ihrt/LightRocket/Getty Images

The Westland Islands are known for two things. The first is a violent, unexpected volcanic eruption that occurred in 1973 after the volcano had lain dormant for 7,000 years.

The second is its puffin population. The islands are home to the world's largest puffin colony. At certain times of the year, the skies are filled with puffins carrying fish to their chicks.

Puffins in Iceland in 1976.Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket/Getty Images

The second is its puffin population. The islands are home to the world's largest puffin colony. At certain times of the year, the skies are filled with puffins carrying fish to their chicks.

Puffins are recognizable by their black and white feathers and their clown-like orange beaks. Unlike most seabirds, they have dense bones allowing them to dive 200 feet deep to catch fish.

A puffin is seen with a freshly caught fish in its beak on the cliffs of Heimaey island, Iceland.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images

Puffins are recognizable by their black and white feathers and their clown-like orange beaks. Unlike most seabirds, they have dense bones allowing them to dive 200 feet deep to catch fish.

Puffins are Iceland's most common bird, but for the last 20 years, they have struggled to breed, according to Erpur Snaer Hansen, director of ecological research at the South Iceland Nature Center.

A puffin opens its colored beak in the breeding season.Sven-Erik Arndt/Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Puffins are Iceland's most common bird, but for the last 20 years, they have struggled to breed, according to Erpur Snaer Hansen, director of ecological research at the South Iceland Nature Center.

Breeding pairs have dropped significantly since the 1990s, and for over a decade, there were few newborn chicks. In 2018, the islands' puffin population had fallen from 7 million to an estimated 5.4 million.

A pair of puffins sit at the burrow entrance on a sea cliff top in Iceland.Sven-Erik Arndt/Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Breeding pairs have dropped significantly since the 1990s, and for over a decade, there were few newborn chicks. In 2018, the islands' puffin population had fallen from 7 million to an estimated 5.4 million.

A number of factors are likely responsible, including climate change, overfishing, pollution, and difficulty finding food.

Puffins during feeding time at the 'Puffin Hotel' rescue center at the Sea Life Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary on the island of Heimaey in Iceland.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images

Reduced populations of sand eels due to increasingly warm sea temperatures have particularly hurt puffins, forcing them to search further for food for their chicks.

Two puffins look into the grass on a bird cliff of Heimaey Island, Iceland.Mahaux Charles/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

It can be hard to believe puffins in Iceland are struggling since they appear plentiful. But because puffins live for 25 years, it takes years to notice falling numbers.

Atlantic puffins on a cliff top in Iceland in 2020.Sven-Erik Arndt/Arterra/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

It can be hard to believe puffins in Iceland are struggling since they appear plentiful. But because puffins live for 25 years, it takes years to notice falling numbers.

Puffins used to be a vital food source and a delicacy for locals and tourists, but hunting restrictions are now in place due to the population's breeding failures.

A portrait of puffin hunter Jakob Erlingsson holding the puffins he caught using a net.Tessa Bunney/Pictures Ltd/Corbis/Getty Images

In 2021, things appeared to be looking up after the colony produced about 700,000 new chicks, but by the middle of the summer, almost half had died, mostly from starvation.

A dead puffin lying on the grass after being caught using a net by a puffin hunter.Tessa Bunney/ Pictures Ltd/Corbis/Getty Images

In 2021, things appeared to be looking up after the colony produced about 700,000 new chicks, but by the middle of the summer, almost half had died, mostly from starvation.

Growing the puffin population isn't helped by the fact they only lay one egg each season. They mate with the same puffin for life and usually go back to the same burrow.

Two puffins on a rock in 2022.Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images

Growing the puffin population isn't helped by the fact they only lay one egg each season. They mate with the same puffin for life and usually go back to the same burrow.

For most of the year, puffins live out on the freezing waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. They live alone, bobbing in the water, diving deep for food.

A puffin looks out to the ocean while perched on a cliff's edge in Iceland.Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images

In late spring, millions of puffins return to breed in the cliffs of these islands.

Hundreds of puffins nesting in Iceland in 2003.Tina Stallard/Getty Images

After the puffling hatches, the parents raise it for about 40 days. Then the parents return to the ocean, leaving their puffling to fend for itself.

A close-up shot of a puffin opening its beak.Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

When the puffling gets hungry, it will leave the burrow and fly out over the ocean in search of food.

A puffin looks out over the sea.Pictures Ltd/Corbis/Getty Images

But pufflings — who use moonlight for guidance — often get disorientated by artificial lights from town and fly inland instead. This is where puffin tossing comes in.

A puffin is thrown off a cliff in Iceland.Eric Chretien/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

But pufflings — who use moonlight for guidance — often get disorientated by artificial lights from town and fly inland instead. This is where puffin tossing comes in.

Toward the end of summer, locals assigned to "puffling patrol" search the streets at night for chicks that have lost their way.

A child holds a puffin that didn’t manage to fly in the right direction out to sea.Eric Chretien/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

It's vital that they help the pufflings by tossing them off the edge of a cliff. When they launch off cliffs, the birds use the sea winds and distance below as a makeshift runway, but if they crash into the town, their wings aren't strong enough to get them airborne again.

A puffin flaps its wings.Mayall/ullstein bild via Getty Images

It's vital that they help the pufflings by tossing them off the edge of a cliff. When they launch off cliffs, the birds use the sea winds and distance below as a makeshift runway, but if they crash into the town, their wings aren't strong enough to get them airborne again.

According to one 86-year-old resident named Svavar Steingrimsson, these patrols have been going on since the beginning of the 20th century when the island first got electricity.

Lights illuminate houses on the island of Heimaey, Iceland.Eric Chretien/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

According to one 86-year-old resident named Svavar Steingrimsson, these patrols have been going on since the beginning of the 20th century when the island first got electricity.

The patrols are famous in Iceland, even if they aren't as successful as they used to be.

A group of local children search for lost puffins on Heimaey island, Iceland.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images

About 25 years ago, you could save 100 pufflings every night, according to local Valur Mar Valmundsson. Now, you're lucky to find that many over the whole season.

A puffin is thrown into the air in Iceland.Tessa Bunney/Corbis News/Getty Images

Once the puffling's data has been recorded, it's taken to the top of cliffs and thrown off the edge.

Children throwing puffins off a cliff in Iceland.Eric Chretien/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

And despite how crude it looks, puffling tossing really is for their own good.

A child throws a puffin off a cliff in Iceland.Eric Chretien/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

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Locals throw baby puffins off clifftops on a remote island in Iceland to help the stray birds take flight

About 43 miles off the southern coast of Iceland are the Westman Islands, a collection of windswept, volcanic remote islands.

The largest of these islands is called Heimaey. It covers about five square miles and is the only inhabited island with a population of about 4,400 people.

The Westland Islands are known for two things. The first is a violent, unexpected volcanic eruption that occurred in 1973 after the volcano had lain dormant for 7,000 years.

The second is its puffin population. The islands are home to the world's largest puffin colony. At certain times of the year, the skies are filled with puffins carrying fish to their chicks.

Puffins are recognizable by their black and white feathers and their clown-like orange beaks. Unlike most seabirds, they have dense bones allowing them to dive 200 feet deep to catch fish.

Puffins are Iceland's most common bird, but for the last 20 years, they have struggled to breed, according to Erpur Snaer Hansen, director of ecological research at the South Iceland Nature Center.

Breeding pairs have dropped significantly since the 1990s, and for over a decade, there were few newborn chicks. In 2018, the islands' puffin population had fallen from 7 million to an estimated 5.4 million.

A number of factors are likely responsible, including climate change, overfishing, pollution, and difficulty finding food.

Reduced populations of sand eels due to increasingly warm sea temperatures have particularly hurt puffins, forcing them to search further for food for their chicks.

It can be hard to believe puffins in Iceland are struggling since they appear plentiful. But because puffins live for 25 years, it takes years to notice falling numbers.

Puffins used to be a vital food source and a delicacy for locals and tourists, but hunting restrictions are now in place due to the population's breeding failures.

In 2021, things appeared to be looking up after the colony produced about 700,000 new chicks, but by the middle of the summer, almost half had died, mostly from starvation.

Growing the puffin population isn't helped by the fact they only lay one egg each season. They mate with the same puffin for life and usually go back to the same burrow.

For most of the year, puffins live out on the freezing waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. They live alone, bobbing in the water, diving deep for food.

In late spring, millions of puffins return to breed in the cliffs of these islands.

After the puffling hatches, the parents raise it for about 40 days. Then the parents return to the ocean, leaving their puffling to fend for itself.

When the puffling gets hungry, it will leave the burrow and fly out over the ocean in search of food.

But pufflings — who use moonlight for guidance — often get disorientated by artificial lights from town and fly inland instead. This is where puffin tossing comes in.

Toward the end of summer, locals assigned to "puffling patrol" search the streets at night for chicks that have lost their way.

It's vital that they help the pufflings by tossing them off the edge of a cliff. When they launch off cliffs, the birds use the sea winds and distance below as a makeshift runway, but if they crash into the town, their wings aren't strong enough to get them airborne again.

According to one 86-year-old resident named Svavar Steingrimsson, these patrols have been going on since the beginning of the 20th century when the island first got electricity.

The patrols are famous in Iceland, even if they aren't as successful as they used to be.

About 25 years ago, you could save 100 pufflings every night, according to local Valur Mar Valmundsson. Now, you're lucky to find that many over the whole season.

Once the puffling's data has been recorded, it's taken to the top of cliffs and thrown off the edge.

And despite how crude it looks, puffling tossing really is for their own good.