Puffins of Saint Piet Island

2009-05-30T02:34:00.001-07:00

Halfway between Irish and Icelandic moors.

Atlantic Puffins gather by the scores.
On the Isle of Saint Piet - they find safe retreat
Before soaring onward to northern shores.

Their days are humble in this grand retreat.

Without this journey, their lives incomplete.
They live on the edge - of a narrow cliff ledge.

So begins the story of the Puffins of St. Piet.

Ruler of the Roost

2009-05-30T02:32:00.000-07:00

King Cornelius, the family's crowning bird.
To think it any other way might seem absurd.
In the tribe of puffins, it's always certain
Upon his shoulders lie a great burden.
.
Standing next to his home by the sea
he ponders what his future might be.
.
He knows one thing, and that's for sure.
He must help the tribe endure.

Lovely Josefine Puffin

2009-05-30T02:29:00.000-07:00

There once was a bird named Josefine.
Who was to King Corny, his Queen.
She was chubby and stout - with an orange-ish snout
To a Puffin, she was sight to be seen!
.
Corny and Josie became quite the pair.
Their love was noble and fair.
By the sea they did roam - to find a suitable home.
And settled on a burrow as their lair.

A Spotted Egg

2009-05-30T02:27:00.000-07:00

The white - what a sight!
The brown - makes you frown!
The black - sets you back!
The yellow - an ugly fellow...

Such an egg, only a mother would love.
Or maybe the Great Puffin Above.

Behold! It's a baby puffin!
If you curse it, you're full of stuffin’.

The Waiting Game

2009-05-30T02:25:00.001-07:00

You might think it's quite apparent,
but there's nothing like an expectant parent.
They watch, they wait - Being a trio would be great!
To fly, to swim, eat herring - enjoying the gifts inherent.

Into the nest they peer,
hoping the birth-day is near.
There's so much to do - when you're still only two.
And number three is almost here!

Brown Otto

2009-05-30T02:23:00.000-07:00

Cheer! Huzzah! Hip-hip-hooray!
For the chick has arrived today!
.
They think it's quite spot-o.
To name him Otto.
Just like his egg, he's mottled, spottled, and gray.

Into the Light

2009-05-30T02:18:00.000-07:00

Josefine waits outside the nest.

While Otto crawls at his fledgling best.

Squawk! Squawk! Squawk!

These are no uncertain terms.

When the baby squawks, the baby talks,

And now it's time to find some worms.

Jack-Straw and Foxtail

2009-05-30T02:16:00.001-07:00

"Cornelius Puffin, why is your beak full of weeds?"
- "To give my nest all it needs!"

"Cornelius Puffin, how do you build your nest?"
- "With jack-straw and fox-tail and feathers from the breast."

"Cornelius Puffin, I have another question for you."
- "Stop with such non-sense for I have so much to do!"

For the Birds

2009-05-30T02:15:00.001-07:00

Good morning, Otto!
It's time to attack the day.
.
I know you're sleepy but...
there are fish to eat and feet to flex.
Eyes to open and wings to stretch.

See? Food. Seafood!

2009-05-30T02:13:00.000-07:00

Mother truly knows best, or so I have heard.
You cannot raise a puffin with just one bird.
Two heads are better than one, so it’s been said.
And Josefine Puffin would go fishing to keep Otto fed.

One, two, three eels,
Count them up. – a fine dessert.
A happy tummy.

Song for Otto

2009-05-30T02:11:00.001-07:00

Scarlet-breasted bird

Wings and feet barely tested.

Worlds to explore.

Otto knows litte, but is learning lots

day-by-day.

Eyes opened wide.

Webbed feet balancing on jagged rocks.

This is just the first...

Of a million tests.

What Puffins Do Second-Best

2009-05-30T02:08:00.001-07:00

On land or on sea, puffins do fine

but no-thing beats the thrill of flight.

As other birds swam in the brine

Otto flapped his wings with all his might.

There must be another way,

Otto wondered if

He jumped from the water

and climbed a tall cliff...

Learning to Fly

2009-05-30T02:01:00.000-07:00

Scarlet-bellied Otto jumped from high.

He did not stop to wonder why

He just knew it best to try.

Flap Otto Flap! The Puffins did cry.

On a wing and a prayer

the little bird did fly.

Whoa! Wow! Whee! That's what he said.

As he looked about with each turn of his head.

Now he had one question, you must understand.

It's easy to fly, but how does he land?

Taking the Plunge

2009-05-30T01:58:00.001-07:00

With a Whoosh and a Splash,
Otto hits the mark.
Diving, Swimming, Floating.
Little difference between Air and Sea.

…except the water up one’s beak.
Gag! Cough! Gasp! Choke!
Pffffft.
Flap-flap-flap.

Three Minus One

2009-05-30T01:56:00.001-07:00

Two lonely puffins
High atop the rocky ledge.
A Circle Complete.

Fair-Feathered Friends

2009-05-30T01:54:00.000-07:00

One+One+One
That’s the Puffin Way…
Still, the colony isn’t complete
Without Fair-Feathered Friends.

Otto knows what’s next
He must finds a mate.
He must build a nest.

Hello Goodbye

2009-05-30T01:45:00.001-07:00

Otto thinks good-bye doesn't mean forever.
So he flies home whenever he can.
To reunite with the rest of his clan.

When it comes to family,
there's no questioning why.
there will always be a hello
for every good-bye.