Seabirds

Tern and puffin feeding rates continue to slow across the islands, an expected change as chicks transition to fledglings, leaving their nests and burrows for their next adventure. Fewer chicks remain on the islands every day and with the conclusion of many productivity and feeding studies, many researchers have "tern-ed" their attention to end-of-season data entry and resighting. 

There is still plenty to do, however! Research staff on Seal Island captured and processed 171 Leaches Storm-petrels in one night. The Outer Green Island team discovered an unmarked Black Guillemot burrow, bringing the island’s new burrow total to seven this season.

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At approximately 2:50am on July 24, our on-camera puffling "Ama" gathered up her strength and set off into the inky night to fledge. Surrounded by terns, she fledged at 42 days of age, right on schedule with this burrow’s average! Fledging is the voyage to begin all voyages for young birds, and puffling chicks won’t return to the islands until 2-3 years later. This departure is bittersweet for us, but it also marks the beginning of Ama’s life as a grown puffin!

Meanwhile, Willie and Millie have returned to the burrow multiple times after the departure of their sixth chick together. After the sun rose, Willie rearranged straw while Millie returned with a beakful of fish.

For the past few days, the pair has been returning to do some burrow excavations, digging up soil and moving vegetation around. Ama had dug a deeper “Hidey Hole” to sit in, perhaps spurred by the relative lack of straw in the burrow this year. Continue watching the Puffin Burrow cam to see what new renovations Willie and Millie may make to the nest!

Packing Up and Moving Out

The Jenny Island team returned to the mainland on Friday. While not the earliest island closing on record, as Jenny, Pond, and Outer Green Islands used to close in mid-July, this is the earliest all chicks have fledged the island. Closing an island is choreographed like a dance. A great graphic outlining the mission, paired with premier packing and organization from islanders, topped off with a touch of tetris mastery is the path to victory for island teams hoping to win the "Egress Challenge" – our annual contest for the quickest and most efficient island closing. The research team from Jenny Island had a strong showing, but with six islands yet to close, the egress challenge is still up for grabs. 

For additional news, please visit the Seabird Island News index page.