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Puffin
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Puffin (En) - Fratercula arctica (Lat)- Deniz Papagani (Tr)
The common name puffin describes any of three auk species (or alcids) in the bird genus Fratercula (Latin: little brother — probably a reference to their black and white plumage, which resembles monastic robes) with a brightly colored beak in the breeding season. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among rocks or in burrows in the soil.
All three puffin species have large bills. They shed the colourful outer parts of their bills after the breeding season, leaving a smaller and duller beak. Their short wings are adapted for swimming with a flying technique under water. In the air, they beat their wings rapidly (up to 100 times per minute) in swift flight, often flying low over the ocean's surface.
Unlike many animals, puffins form long-term pair bonds. The female lays a single egg, and both parents incubate the egg and feed the chick. The incubating parent holds the egg against their brood patch with their wings. The chicks fledge at night. After fledging, the chicks spend the first few years of their lives at sea, returning to breed after three to seven years.
Like many auks, puffins eat both fish and zooplankton, but feed their chicks primarily with small marine fish several times a day. Puffins can carry several fish back to their nest at a time. The average catch is around 10 fish per trip but the record is a whopping 62 fish at once! The puffin’s beak is specialized to hold all these fish. The puffin’s raspy tongue holds each fish against spines on the palate, while it opens its beak to catch more fish.
Puffins often live 20 years or more. The oldest known puffin lived to be 29 years, but it is likely many live longer. |
Jamesp, MMM, uma_k5, angybone has marked this note useful
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- Jamesp
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(18906) - [2007-06-13 8:48]
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Hi Koray
I think I was standing next to you when you took this shot!! Lovely detail and colour with excellent focus.
James
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- MMM
(11425)
- [2007-06-13 9:00]
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Hello Kotay
Nice capture.Excellent POV ,the color and composition are very nice.
TFS Michel
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- trinko
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 587 W: 78 N: 322]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(4321) - [2007-06-13 9:37]
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nice colors, but the photo seems dark overall, i'd lighten just a bit. good focus background and an interesting pose by the bird
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- pvs
(14464)
- [2007-06-13 10:00]
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Hi Koray,
A nice capture with good colors and details,I think when you had chosen a bit lower pov the picture would strike even a bit more,tfs
Paul
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- uma_k5
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 47 W: 6 N: 48]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-s.gif)
(313) - [2007-06-13 11:41]
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Hi Koray,
Nice shot of this pretty bird. Lovely colours. TFS.
Cheers, Uma
I love this funny bird.
Goo shot, too.
Andrea
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- gannu
(14761)
- [2007-06-14 5:15]
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Koray, WoW What an amazing bird this is. This is lovely. Great shot and lovely. Ganesh
Excellent colors and contrasts - great sharpness. What a wonderful little creature! Great notes too.
A little dark, but that can easily be fixed. Very sharp with great dof on the background.
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1047 W: 14 N: 2372]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(7684)