Been waiting so long!"The clown of seabirds" – Puffin chicks have been born!

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Puffin chicks have finally been born！ At the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium in Pingtung, over 10 eggs were laid by tufted puffins in late May. After more than a month of incubation, the first puffin chick has finally hatched. The aquarium announced that the adorable little puffin will meet the public at the World of Water exhibition area in August, and there will also be a daily puffin feeding and explanation session at 10 a.m.

▲ Puffin mother and chick. Due to the chick’s sensitivity to bright light, it is being kept in a darker area inside the burrow. (Photo / Provided by the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium)

The museum stated that after May, it enters the breeding season for tufted puffins. This time, over 10 eggs were laid together, and the first-born chick also marks the 25th successful case of puffin incubation by the museum. The puffin chick is currently about 6 cm tall and weighs 60 grams, with a grayish-black body color. Since the chick’s feathers are not yet warm enough, the parent birds cover it with their wings to maintain its body temperature.

The most distinctive feature of the tufted puffin is its white face paired with an orange-red beak, along with two golden-yellow crests behind the eyes resembling a crown — hence the name "tufted" puffin. The well-known animated movie"Happy Feet 2"features a character called "Flyer," who is a puffin.

▲ The puffin "Flyer" from the movie "Happy Feet 2." (Photo / From the Warner Bros. Taiwan Fan Club Facebook page)The museum pointed out that the puffin’s breeding season is from April to June. During this time, their feather colors become brighter, and their unique facial coloring gives them a comical appearance, earning them the nickname "the clown of seabirds." In addition to flying, puffins are also excellent divers, capable of staying underwater for up to one minute, and they primarily feed on fish and crustaceans.)

The National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium notes that puffins breed between April and June, during which their feathers become more vibrant. Coupled with their distinctive facial coloration, they appear comical, earning them the nickname "the clown of seabirds." In addition to flying, puffins are also exceptional divers, capable of staying underwater for up to one minute, and their diet mainly consists of fish and crustaceans.