Atlantic Puffin Research Paper

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Common Name:
The animal chosen is the Atlantic Puffin, also known as the Common Puffin.

Scientific Name:
The Atlantic Puffin’s scientific name is Fratercula Arctica. Puffins are part of the Auk family, which is classified as the Alcidae family. They belong to the order Charadriiformes, a diverse order of small to medium sized birds that commonly live near the water. (A few occupy deserts and rain forests.)

Habitat:
The Atlantic Puffin mates and raises its young in a burrow, usually in the soil between the rocks on steep, ocean-facing cliffs. By nesting in remote locations, the puffin avoids predator detection. These burrows are usually about three feet in length and are curved. In the back of the burrow, the parents make a nest of grasses, leaves and feathers for their young. Occasionally, the nest is left unlined. Often, puffins with designate a specific location for a bathroom. This is usually placed at the bend of the curved burrow. In an effort to keep their young unsoiled, the parents regularly clean the nest.

Curiously, the Atlantic Puffin is also known for occupying the empty burrows of rabbits. Although this habitat is potentially more dangerous, many puffins survive in this nesting situation. Many of these islands are barren and have little or no terrestrial predators.

Puffins live at sea while not mating or raising young. They glide across the water, swim on the surface of the ocean, and dive to depths of nearly 200 feet to get their food. Puffins commonly spend their entire winter at sea. Young puffins will spend two to three years out at sea before returning to land to mate.

Ecosystem:
The Atlantic Puffin’s ecosystem contains a combination of both terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic plants and animals. For the cliff-...

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...ins are relatively quiet creatures when above ground.

If puffins are disturbed by humans they will leave their nests and will not come back. This has led to the extinction of puffin colonies in parts of the European coastline.

When the Atlantic Puffin’s young becomes mature enough to leave the nest, it will wait until night to emerge. Often its first time out of the nest, the young puffin becomes acclimated to its surroundings and begins to descend the perilous cliff face. Once it reaches the bottom, it will quickly travel out to sea. It leaves the island alone and will not return to land for two to three years.

Works Cited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puffin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Puffin http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22694927/0 http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/atlantic-puffin/ http://projectpuffin.audubon.org/puffin-faqs

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