Icelandic Village Striving to Preserve Infant Puffins
In the heart of the North Atlantic, the Westman Islands, a volcanic archipelago off Iceland's southern shore, is home to the world's largest colony of puffins. About one-fifth of the world's millions of puffins live in and around the cliffs of Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the archipelago.
During the end of every summer, a unique event unfolds on Heimaey - Pysju Tímabil, or puffin season. Thousands of baby puffins leave their nests each night, some of them finding themselves lost or stranded in the island's only town, Vestmannaeyjabær, due to the bright lights confusing them for the guiding light of the moon.
To address this issue, the local community and the Westman Islands Puffin Conservation Project have formed the Puffling Patrol. This dedicated group of islanders rescues these lost pufflings, ensuring their safe return to the wild.
Each rescued puffin is carefully tagged and recorded before being released. Last year, the Puffling Patrol recorded the highest number of puffins since tracking began, suggesting a potential reversal of the downward trend in the puffin population.
The efforts of the Puffling Patrol and the local community are having a positive impact on the puffin population. The Westman Islands may be witnessing a change for the better due to these conservation efforts.
Photographer Joshua Sneade documents the midnight rescues of Iceland's lost puffins, capturing the heartwarming moments when island children gather to release the rescued puffins back into the wild.
The puffin species has been officially declared at risk of extinction in 2018 due to a sharp decline in numbers over the past three decades. However, the resilience of the Westman Islands' community and the dedication of the Puffling Patrol offer a glimmer of hope for these flightless seabirds.
As the sun rises over the Westman Islands, the rescued puffins begin a new chapter in their lives, flying back to the cliffs where they belong, thanks to the efforts of the Puffling Patrol and the local community.
