Photo: Atlantic Puffin Birds Cape Bonavista Newfoundland

Two Atlantic Puffins stand on Bird Island, a nesting place for them, discovered by Captin James Cook in 1775. The Island is located just off shore from Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland Canada.

When Captain James Cook first sighted Bird Island in 1775, he called it that due to the vast numbers of birds he saw nesting and resting on the rocks. The Atlantic Puffin, seen here, is just one of the bird species that resides on the conservation island today.

The Puffin, whose scientific name is Fratercula arctica, is a seabird that is a member of the auk family. It has two distinctive characteristics; its colourful beak and bright yellow webbed feet. It is also sometimes called the 'Common Puffin' but it is the only Puffin species to be found in the Atlantic Ocean.

One of the most important reasons for conservation areas, such as Bird Island off shore from Cape Bonavista Lighthouse in the Bonavista Peninsula in Newfoundland Canada, is that the numbers of this Puffin severely declined during the nineteenth century when they were hunted for their meat and eggs. ... continue below the picture...

This picture is part of the photo album "Animal Pictures" - there are more beautiful images waiting for you.

... They are still eaten, however because their numbers have been brought up now, them being hunted does not affect their population drastically like it did before. Bird Island is also important for these birds because no hostile predator can be found on the island, such as rats, which can affect bird populations - the same as dogs, cats and foxes can as well. On this island the birds can eat, rest and breed in peace.

Atlantic Puffins, Fratercula arctica, nesting on Bird Island just off shore from Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, Bonavista Peninsula, Bonavista Bay, Discovery Trail, Newfoundland Labrador, Newfoundland, Canada.