Parrots in Norway
Canon 1D mk III, Canon EF 300mm f4L, 1/800 sec, ISO 1000
Canon 1D mk III, Canon EF 300mm f4L, 1/400 sec, ISO 640
Because of it’s appearance the Atlantic Puffin is sometimes referred to as a parrot, but contrary to a parrot the Atlantic Puffin is quiet. The Atlantic Puffin is like a symbol of the island Runde. The nesting cliffs on Runde are known for several species, but the main attraction is the Atlantic Puffin. Photografers from all over Europe come to Runde looking for the Puffin. Runde is the most southern nesting cliff in Norway with almost 100.000 pairs of Atlantic Puffin. Røst has the biggest populacion of Atlantic Puffin in Norway with almost 5 times as many as Runde. We can find the Atlantic Puffin at Runde because the ocean around the island is a good spawning place for fish. Right now the experts are concerned about the falling population at Runde. They don’t know 100 %, but they think the water is getting 2-4 degrees warmer, and because of this it’s harder for the Atlantic Puffin to find food.
Canon 1D mk III, Canon EF 300mm f4L, 1/2500 sec, ISO 1000
Canon 1D mk III, Canon EF 300mm f4L, 1/8000 sec, ISO 500
I just have to say that this bird fascinates me. This trip was definitely not the last one. I still don’t know if I think they can fly very vell or quite bad. They come flying in like they don’t have control, but I just don’t know if it’s just a way to show us that they are in total control.
One happy Puffin getting home with food to the family. The Puffin can dive down to 60 meters looking for food. It can also fly up to 100 km looking for food.
Canon 1D mk III, Canon EF 300mm f4L, 1/1250 sec, ISO 500 This one liked to show us that he is a good fisher..
Canon 1D mk III, Canon EF 300mm f4L, 1/2000 sec, ISO 640
The birds plung from the cliffs looking for more food.
Canon 1D mk III, Canon EF 300mm f4L, 1/250 sec, ISO 1000
The Atlantic Puffin comes to Runde almost the same date every year in the second half of April and stays there until the end of August. In the nesting part of the year the bird has the colors on the beak as we can see on the photo above. But the rest of the year the bird is living on the open ocean, and the color is less powerful.
Canon 1D mk III, Canon EF 300mm f4L, 1/1250 sec, ISO 500
While some birds with big wings are landing quite slowly this bird lands fast. It’s hard to get good photos of this part of the flight because of the fast movement. But when I at last got a good one they are very good looking.
Canon 1D mk III, Canon EF 300mm f4L, 1/1250 sec, ISO 1000
My hope is that the whole specie can do as this individual and show some muscle, going on and getting stronger without loosing the battle against the changing conditions. I also hope people can understand that the changes we now see in the climate is made by us, and we are the ones who can do something about it. I hope to see the Atlantic Puffin at Runde for many years to come.
Photos from my trips 