Puffins, with their vibrant red-orange, yellow, and black beaks, striking black-and-white plumage, and irresistibly cute eyes, are some of the most captivating birds in the northern hemisphere. Every year, tourists flock to Iceland, eager to catch a glimpse of these charismatic creatures. Yet, if you find yourself on Iceland’s southern coast during August or September, you might be in for a surprise: instead of just admiring puffins, you could witness locals and visitors gently tossing baby puffins—known as "pufflings"—off cliffs in the dead of night.
As unusual as it sounds, this act is part of a critical conservation effort during puffling season—the time when these young birds leave their nests and embark on their life at sea.
Unfortunately, climate change and modern-day conveniences, like the bright lights of nearby towns, pose significant threats to these birds. When pufflings get disoriented by artificial lights and mistakenly head inland instead of towards the ocean, well-meaning humans step in to guide them back—sometimes literally by giving them a toss off a cliff. Surprisingly, this practice has the full backing of biologists.
The Annual Puffling Rescue Mission
Each year, about six weeks after hatching, a puffling emerges from its burrow, nestled safely in the cliffs near the ocean. Traditionally, these young birds use the light of the moon to navigate their way to the sea. However, the artificial lights from nearby towns can easily confuse them, leading them inland where their chances of survival plummet.
This is where the local community and eager visitors come to the rescue. Armed with gloves and boxes, they take to the streets at night during late summer, searching for these wayward pufflings. Once found, the birds are either placed gently on the edge of a cliff to take flight on their own or are given a gentle toss into the air to encourage them to spread their wings and soar out to sea.
Puffling rescues are a community affair, often involving entire families. In the town of Vestmannaeyjabær, located in the Westman Islands and home to the largest colony of Icelandic puffins, both children and adults head out after dark to patrol the streets. The new moon phase is particularly critical, as the absence of moonlight leaves more pufflings stranded.
Those who find pufflings are encouraged to weigh them and report their findings to the website lundi.is, helping researchers track the number of stranded birds each season. Although not everyone reports their findings, it’s estimated that thousands of pufflings are rescued each year. According to Erpur Snær Hansen, director of ecological research at the South Iceland Nature Centre, the large number of rescued pufflings signals a healthy breeding season.
Why Tossing Pufflings Matters
But why go to such lengths to save these lost birds? While puffins are not officially endangered, they face a multitude of threats that have led conservationists to take action. Over the past 30 years, Iceland’s puffin population has plummeted by about 70%, making efforts like the puffling rescue mission more crucial than ever.
The most pressing threat to puffins is the rising sea surface temperatures, which directly impact their food supply. Puffins primarily feed on sandeel, and as sea temperatures rise, this essential food source becomes scarcer. Without enough food, adult puffins struggle to raise their chicks successfully.
Hansen points out that nearly 72% of the fluctuations in puffin populations can be attributed to changes in ocean temperatures. Even a small 1°C shift from the long-term average can reduce puffling production by 55%. Additionally, puffins only lay one egg per year, and with later hatching times and food shortages, the survival of each chick is increasingly at risk.
Legal hunting of puffins in Iceland and the growing number of pufflings led astray by city lights further compound the challenges these birds face. Hansen warns that if current trends continue, puffins in southern and western Iceland could vanish within a few decades. Although there has been a slight uptick in the puffin population in recent years, the situation remains delicate, and ongoing vigilance is essential, particularly during the fledgling season when the pufflings are most vulnerable.
Limited Long-Term Solutions
Unfortunately, there are few long-term solutions to prevent pufflings from becoming disoriented by artificial lights. While light pollution is a significant factor, Hansen notes that reducing it is nearly impossible. Even in a small town like Vestmannaeyjabær, with just over 4,300 residents, a single stray light can lure pufflings in the wrong direction.
Some studies have explored whether using warm-colored lights could help, but the results have been inconclusive. For now, the best approach is hands-on intervention to ensure these young birds safely reach the sea and continue their journey as nature intended.