on a sunny summer day Iceland’s Westman Islands seemed a vision of serenity
Islands seemed a vision of serenity
Islands seemed a vision of serenity but despite the Placid appearance this
but despite the Placid appearance this
but despite the Placid appearance this is in fact one of the most volatile
is in fact one of the most volatile
is in fact one of the most volatile places on earth volcanic activity runs
places on earth volcanic activity runs
places on earth volcanic activity runs rampant in Iceland earthquakes and
rampant in Iceland earthquakes and
rampant in Iceland earthquakes and eruptions occur frequently and the land
eruptions occur frequently and the land
eruptions occur frequently and the land above and below the sea is in a constant
above and below the sea is in a constant
above and below the sea is in a constant state of flux the landscape is not the
state of flux the landscape is not the
state of flux the landscape is not the only thing changing in the Westman
only thing changing in the Westman
only thing changing in the Westman Islands something mysterious is
Islands something mysterious is
Islands something mysterious is happening to one of the islands
happening to one of the islands
happening to one of the islands best-loved inhabitants the Atlantic
best-loved inhabitants the Atlantic
best-loved inhabitants the Atlantic puffin and the puffins have actually
puffin and the puffins have actually
puffin and the puffins have actually been dying they’ve found them next to
been dying they’ve found them next to
been dying they’ve found them next to the holes and they feel that they’ve
the holes and they feel that they’ve
the holes and they feel that they’ve been starving but their loss will be a
been starving but their loss will be a
been starving but their loss will be a blow for their neighbors the people of
blow for their neighbors the people of
blow for their neighbors the people of Jemez puffin plays a huge role in the
Jemez puffin plays a huge role in the
Jemez puffin plays a huge role in the culture of this society it has a place
culture of this society it has a place
culture of this society it has a place in the heart of everybody so it is sort
in the heart of everybody so it is sort
in the heart of everybody so it is sort of important that hopefully things
of important that hopefully things
of important that hopefully things improve throughout history birds have
improve throughout history birds have
improve throughout history birds have been abundant here the high grassy peaks
been abundant here the high grassy peaks
been abundant here the high grassy peaks provide ideal nesting grounds and the
provide ideal nesting grounds and the
provide ideal nesting grounds and the Seas have offered up a steady supply of
Seas have offered up a steady supply of
Seas have offered up a steady supply of fish from year to year it’s been the
fish from year to year it’s been the
fish from year to year it’s been the almost ideal spot for Atlantic puffins
almost ideal spot for Atlantic puffins
almost ideal spot for Atlantic puffins and over time they’ve become tied to
and over time they’ve become tied to
and over time they’ve become tied to this place
this is one of the world’s largest
this is one of the world’s largest colonies with an estimated 1.3 million
colonies with an estimated 1.3 million
colonies with an estimated 1.3 million nesting pairs they spend most of the
nesting pairs they spend most of the
nesting pairs they spend most of the year at sea returning to land in the
year at sea returning to land in the
year at sea returning to land in the spring to rear a single chick but for
spring to rear a single chick but for
spring to rear a single chick but for the past three years something has gone
the past three years something has gone
the past three years something has gone wrong almost none of the puffins are
wrong almost none of the puffins are
wrong almost none of the puffins are breeding researchers say they think they
breeding researchers say they think they
breeding researchers say they think they know the root of the problem
know the root of the problem
know the root of the problem historical catch records indicate a
historical catch records indicate a
historical catch records indicate a severe decline in the puffins favorite
severe decline in the puffins favorite
severe decline in the puffins favorite food
food
food a small nutritious fish known as the
a small nutritious fish known as the
a small nutritious fish known as the sand Lance but for the last three years
sand Lance but for the last three years
sand Lance but for the last three years it’s been scarce in areas where it used
it’s been scarce in areas where it used
it’s been scarce in areas where it used to be abundant the fish has also shown
to be abundant the fish has also shown
to be abundant the fish has also shown up late in the puffins breeding season
up late in the puffins breeding season
up late in the puffins breeding season puffins are not the only birds that may
puffins are not the only birds that may
puffins are not the only birds that may be affected by the loss of the sand
be affected by the loss of the sand
be affected by the loss of the sand plants other Icelandic seabirds have
plants other Icelandic seabirds have
plants other Icelandic seabirds have also had breeding problems for the same
also had breeding problems for the same
also had breeding problems for the same three-year period it was kind of sad to
three-year period it was kind of sad to
three-year period it was kind of sad to experience a third year in a row of of
experience a third year in a row of of
experience a third year in a row of of total breeding failure or close to that
total breeding failure or close to that
total breeding failure or close to that one wonders if that’s going to continue
ecologist air / hansom has observed that
ecologist air / hansom has observed that some birds travel great distances to
some birds travel great distances to
some birds travel great distances to find food
find food
find food many have opted not to reproduce and
many have opted not to reproduce and
many have opted not to reproduce and those that did reproduce held off until
those that did reproduce held off until
those that did reproduce held off until very late in the season perhaps waiting
very late in the season perhaps waiting
very late in the season perhaps waiting for feeding conditions to improve in
for feeding conditions to improve in
for feeding conditions to improve in desperation some breeding birds have
desperation some breeding birds have
desperation some breeding birds have attempted to feed their offspring other
attempted to feed their offspring other
attempted to feed their offspring other types of fish that the youngsters can’t
types of fish that the youngsters can’t
types of fish that the youngsters can’t manage the sand
manage the sand
manage the sand Celie but tiny little fish that the
Celie but tiny little fish that the
Celie but tiny little fish that the puffins are used to eating hasn’t been
puffins are used to eating hasn’t been
puffins are used to eating hasn’t been available they’ve seen puffs and parents
available they’ve seen puffs and parents
available they’ve seen puffs and parents come in with large herring but the
come in with large herring but the
come in with large herring but the little babies can’t swallow that so they
little babies can’t swallow that so they
little babies can’t swallow that so they can’t eat that the researchers believe
can’t eat that the researchers believe
can’t eat that the researchers believe the loss of the sand lance may be linked
the loss of the sand lance may be linked
the loss of the sand lance may be linked with climate change in Iceland ocean
with climate change in Iceland ocean
with climate change in Iceland ocean temperatures have increased by 3 point 6
temperatures have increased by 3 point 6
temperatures have increased by 3 point 6 degrees Fahrenheit in the past two
degrees Fahrenheit in the past two
degrees Fahrenheit in the past two decades these puffins are not the only
decades these puffins are not the only
decades these puffins are not the only ones to be affected by global warming
ones to be affected by global warming
ones to be affected by global warming the researchers say this colony is
the researchers say this colony is
the researchers say this colony is critical since it’s one of the largest
critical since it’s one of the largest
critical since it’s one of the largest in the world
in the world
in the world it’s true Birds have one unique
it’s true Birds have one unique
it’s true Birds have one unique advantage over other species faced with
advantage over other species faced with
advantage over other species faced with changing surroundings they can fly away
these puffins may do so seeking out new
these puffins may do so seeking out new nesting grounds if the food supply and
nesting grounds if the food supply and
nesting grounds if the food supply and Iceland continues to decline changing
Iceland continues to decline changing
Iceland continues to decline changing temperatures are creating turmoil and
temperatures are creating turmoil and
temperatures are creating turmoil and nature across the globe but for the
nature across the globe but for the
nature across the globe but for the Westman Islands where puffins have
Westman Islands where puffins have
Westman Islands where puffins have reigned supreme the changes are hitting
reigned supreme the changes are hitting
reigned supreme the changes are hitting close to home sponsored by National
close to home sponsored by National
close to home sponsored by National Geographic mission programs taking
Geographic mission programs taking
Geographic mission programs taking science and exploration into the new
science and exploration into the new
science and exploration into the new millennium
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