Penair cancelled the flight because of strong cross-winds at the airstrip, so I ended up having a bonus extra two days on St. George.
The younger kids and I learned all about puffins in the morning. We learned how puffins spend their year, build their nest, and share incubation and chick-feeding duties. We then went to the gym, and divided into puffin pairs.
It was winter for a while, and we flew and swam out at sea (good thing the gym is so large!). The breeding season came, and each pair found a burrow (a chair). Pairs took turn collecting nesting material in their bill (a large plastic alligator clip). Once burrows were prepared, each pair was given a ball to incubate. Pairs took turns, one parent keeping the egg warm and the other feeding out at sea. The egg soon hatched, and the fun began.
Parents had to take turns keeping their chick warm for the first three days. But soon, the chick was big enough to be left alone and both parents could leave and find food.
We used paper fish (large fish were worth 2 points; small fish were worth 1), and learned how distance and prey size influence how much food parents can deliver to their chick.
We timed how much food parents could deliver in 3 minutes. It got fairly competitive between pairs…
The weather was wonderful, clear skies and dry. In the afternoon, the three older students and I hiked up to High Bluffs. We had incredible views, and even met the reindeer herd en route. It was a perfect day.
Winds look better today, so we’re hoping Penair makes it in.
Ann
Busy, happy puffins
This lucky chick received lots of fish!
Expedition to High Bluffs
The reindeer herd
