The Atlantic Puffin, often nicknamed the "sea parrot," is a small, colorful seabird found in the North Atlantic. With its striking orange beak, white face, and black back, it is one of the most easily recognized birds in the world. Puffins spend most of their lives at sea, where they dive up to 200 feet (60 meters) to catch small fish such as herring and sand eels. Their wings, which appear small on land, act like flippers underwater, propelling them with remarkable speed and agility.
Puffins are also known for their unique nesting habits. They dig burrows in cliffs and grassy slopes, where they lay a single egg each breeding season. Both parents share the responsibility of incubating the egg and feeding the chick, known as a puffling. Once fledged, young puffins head out to sea and may not return to land for several years.
Sadly, puffins are facing significant threats from overfishing, climate change, and pollution. Conservationists are working to protect their breeding sites and ensure sustainable fishing practices to preserve this beloved seabird.