Exit Next

Burhou is home in the summer to 175 pairs of Atlantic Puffins. Next

Here they breed and raise their young Puffling chicks. Next

Then in July the adults leave the burrow and return to the sea. Next

Soon after the Pufflings chicks will leave the burrows at night to join the adult colony at sea. Next

In the long grass, above the sea, pairs of Atlantic Puffins build nests in old rabbit burrows. Inside one of the nests lived the Puffin family. Each year the male and female returned to the same burrow to raise a Puffling chick. All the chick knew was the burrow. Since he was born he had never left it. 'That's because you're a baby,' said Mother Puffin, gently. 'I'm not a baby!' sulked the Puffling. That moment father Puffin returned clutching sand eels in his beak for the young chick to eat. Next

'I'm not a baby, you know,' he said as he ate. 'I'm not a baby! I don't want to be a baby, I hate being a baby! I never get to do anything!‘ Then as the cold wind blew outside his mother tucked the chick safely under her wing. Next

Weeks passed and the baby chick grew. Then one day in the burrow his parents looked across at the young puffling. “Listen” they both said. “It is now the end of the summer and it is time for us to leave the island and return to the sea. Join us?” A tear ran down the baby chick’s cheek. “I do not think I am strong enough yet,” he replied sobbing. “You are ready,” said his father. “Just remember what we taught you. Run and flap your wings together. In a matter of seconds you will be flying in the air.” Next

“We must go now,” his mother said looking in to his eyes, “but we will be waiting for you in the sea just the other side of black rock.” “We will wait for you there for 3 days and nights with the rest of the Puffin colony.” “I’m scared,” cried the young Puffin “I’ve never left the burrow before.” His father spoke softly. “Let the light of the moon guide you. When you are in the sea just keep paddling until you reach the black rock.” Next

Two days and nights passed since his mother and father had left the burrow. The chick was hungry. “This is it,” he thought to himself. Outside the wind howled and he could hear the sound of the waves breaking on the sea shore. He looked up at the night sky and then at the ground outside the burrow. Now he knew deep in his heart that it was his time to leave. Time to leave Burhou and join the Puffin colony at sea. Time to leave behind his childhood and become a young adult. Next

What happens next? You are the young Puffling chick. Finish the story. Write about your adventure and what happens after you left the burrow? What are the challenges you must overcome before you can join the Puffin colony out at sea? Home