Struggle of an Icelandic Community to Protect Infant Puffins
The Westman Islands, a volcanic archipelago off Iceland's southern shore, is home to the world's largest colony of puffins. Among these islands, Heimaey, the only inhabited island, is particularly significant as it houses about one-fifth of the world's millions of puffins.
For decades, the population of these charming seabirds has been on a sharp decline. However, recent conservation efforts and the commitment of Heimaey's local community appear to have turned the tide.
In 2018, the species was officially declared at risk of extinction. But thanks to dedicated conservation work, last year's Pysju Tímabil, or puffling season, recorded the highest number of pufflings since tracking began. This suggests that the downward trend of puffin population may finally be reversing.
Pysju Tímabil occurs at the end of every summer, when thousands of baby puffins leave their nests each night. A small proportion of these young birds, however, mistake the town lights for the moon and get stranded inland. To address this issue, Islanders form the Puffling Patrol during puffling season to rescue lost or stranded pufflings.
Each rescued puffling is tagged and recorded before being transported to the island's western cliffs. The founder of this puffling rescue mission, which has been active for 30 years, is Yolanda Gísladóttir.
Photographer Joshua Sneade documents the midnight rescues of Iceland's lost pufflings, capturing the heartwarming moments of these tiny birds being given a second chance. During the rescue operations, island children gather to help release the rescued pufflings, helping them take flight to rejoin their colony.
Rescued pufflings are kept safe overnight and released the next morning. This careful process ensures the safety of these precious birds and increases their chances of survival.
The recovery of the puffin population in the Westman Islands is a testament to the power of community effort and conservation. As we continue to support these initiatives, we can hope for the continued growth of this unique and endearing colony.
