'Puffin and petrel chicks from the Witless Bay Reserve are attracted to artificial lighting on the coast, this causes them to fly towards the community leaving them stranded and confused. Artifical lighting influences the migration, foraging, reproduction, and parental behavior of seabirds. Due to their inexperience and age, the chicks are more likely to be attracted by the coastal lights. Newfoundland weather enhances this problem because of the frequent cloud coverage and foggy nights. On bright clear nights when the moon is visible and full the chicks are less likely to be attracted to the coastal lights.
The Puffin Patrol was started 4 years ago by Juergen Schau with the assistance of youth in Witless Bay. Stranded puffin chicks are rescued and secured overnight and then safely returned to the ocean in the morning.'
For the past two years during this time I have been part of Puffin Patrol, going out late at night and scooping young puffins off the roads before they could be hit by a car or attacked by a cat. It's been an amazing experience, and I've met great people and had fun. At the end of the searson Gatheralls Boat Tour treated us patrollers to a tour of the puffin island, and then we had a BBQ with good people. great food, and prizes. For visitors to the province, or anyone interested, there's a Facebook page you may Like, or you can join by going to the CPAWS site. CPAWS is resonsible for weighing, measuring, and tagging young puffins the morning after. If anyone would like to attend a release, they are held at the beach by the vistor center. Release times and notifications are sent out via Facebook.
Cache is a preformed bottle, cammo taped. Bring your own pencil.