Puffins on the Rock

Why Puffins Live Here

The Atlantic Puffin

(Fratercula arctica)

Discover Elliston Point

Feeding: Puffins are elite underwater athletes, using their wings to "fly" through the water to depths of 60 meters or more. They primarily hunt for small forage fish, such as capelin and sand lance, to sustain themselves and their growing chicks. These fish are high fats and yield the energy and nutrients required for rapid growth.

Elliston Point is a key site within the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark, a designation given to landscapes of international geological significance.    

• The Rocks: The site features exposed, fractured sedimentary bedrock that consists primarily of shale. Over time, "differential erosion" occurs where softer rock wears away faster than harder layers. This process carves out the sea stacks and islands that now serve as a safe haven for nesting seabirds. The proximity of the Elliston Point colony (just 30 meters from the viewing area) as well as those located on North Bird Island and South Bird Island is due to this geological process.
• Natural Seating: Even the "furniture" at Elliston Point is geological! Visitors often use the naturally occurring protruding bedrock and boulders as informal seating when watching the puffins.
• Coastal Barrens: The plant life at Elliston Point is a specific community which has evolved to survive the extreme coastal environment. The area is covered with "ericaceous" plants dominated by hardy, acid-loving shrubs such as crowberry, common juniper and tundra bilberry.
• Island Turf: The vegetation on the puffin colony consists primarily of grasses and sedges with other species such as seaside plantain being common. The roots of these plants are vital in stabilizing the thin layer of soil, providing the structural integrity puffins need to excavate and maintain their nesting burrows.

Breeding: Puffins return to the colony in late April and finish the breeding season in early September (though arrival is sometimes delayed by sea ice). Upon arrival, the monogamous pairs renew their bond and clean out the burrow they used the previous year. Mating occurs on the water, after which the female lays a single egg. A "puffling" hatches approximately 40 days later, eventually fledging and heading to sea between late August and September.

Population & Presence: Elliston Point is home to a thriving colony of approximately 400 breeding pairs. The local population appears to be stable, with anecdotal evidence suggesting a potential increase in recent years. Puffins are very tolerant to human presence, which allows for the unique, close range viewing experience visitors enjoy.