2007-09-20, Puffin Lifecycle-角嘴海雀

（单词翻译）

We are here on Seal Island, off the coast of Maine, to observe the heroic track of one baby puffin to the sea. In order to do that, we'll have to use special infrared¹ video because the track will begin at night. Just because this young puffin is making its track alone, that doesn't mean it has neglectful parents. Haha, far from it.

Puffin parents come to this colony in the spring and summer to breed and nest. During the nesting season, the puffin's bill takes on vivid colors of red, blue grey, and ivory. They use these bills for what's called "gaping²" threatening each other with harm without actually fighting. They also use them for what's called “billing”, a show of affection.

Puffins lay one egg per year which is incubated in turn by each adult for 39 to 43 days. When the egg hatches, the parents gather food, and bring it back to the baby for another 45 days.

Only after all that TLC, does the baby feel prepared to trust his instinct to make its way to the ocean. It's hard to believe this bird will soon be able to fly at speeds up to 55 miles an hour with wings beating over 400 times a minute.

Once our brave young puffin hits the water, it will stay at sea for 2 to 3 years, protecting itself from natural hazards like storms and predators³ and man-made hazards like oil spills and nets of fishing trawlers. Even though our young puffin has to walk through rocky crags and craggy rocks, it has instinctively⁴ found its new home in the Atlantic Ocean. In a couple of years, it may be back here ready to mate, and of course, to be admired by thousands of tourists who adore this odd-looking but loveable seabird.