Talk:Puffin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WikiProject Birds
Birds Portal
Puffin is part of WikiProject Birds, an attempt at creating a standardized, informative and easy-to-use ornithological resource. If you would like to participate, visit the project page. Please do not substitute this template.
Start This article has been rated as start-Class on the quality scale.
Mid This article has been rated as mid-importance on the importance scale.
WikiProject Birds To-do:
This article has been reviewed by the Version 1.0 Editorial Team.

Contents

[edit] Mating

I added some information I found about the puffin, and their mating habbits. It seemed important, since it seems so different from the way other animals mate.

I think it would be interesting if there are any ornothologists, or puffin experts, who can expand upon what I have added. I included my source (even though there were many web sites I found this information on).

(CloneArmyCommander 01:26, 17 November 2005 (UTC)) I Love You Puffin

[edit] Domestication?

I'm interested to know if people ever domesticate puffins. I suppose their nesting and feeding patterns would probably make it unfeasible.... Too bad. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.103.172.9 (talk) 16:51, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Chunky Birds???

Haha! what are they, Campbells soups??? (Paragraph 2 Line 1)

many people think that the puffin looks like a penguin and then gets them confused for one dont be the beak clearly distinguishes them!

How big are they? 210.50.228.4 03:33, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Puffins as food

I believe the article should include some reference to the eating of puffins as food, particularly in Iceland and on the Lofoten islands. Also serves as an example of meat that Catholics are traditionally allowed to eat during lent, even if the reasoning behind this exception is factually incorrect. Pelican eats pigeon (talk) 17:16, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

I think that only applies to Atlantic Puffin Jimfbleak (talk) 18:55, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
That's entirely possible - however, there is no reference in that article either. The problem faced in a situation like this is that somebody looking for information on puffins as food might not know to head for the Atlantic Puffin article rather than this one. What is the best approach in situations such as this? - ‡Pelican eats pigeon‡ message contributions 19:28, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
My understanding is that Tufted Puffins have always been an important component of the diet among Aleuts and Ainu in the North Pacific, which is to be expected considering how abundant they are and relatively easy to capture. I don't have sources, though I'm sure they exist. I can vouch from personal experience that the breast, while tough, is extremely dark (rich in hemo- and myoglobin from the extreme aerobic requirement of the high-frequency wing beats) and consequently flavorful. When marinated with onions and soy sauce it is quite an enjoyable alternative to the stewed-beef-in-a-can which dominates the diet of the field worker. (Don't hate me, puffin lovers!) - Eliezg (talk) 19:53, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
That's interesting to know - might have to try one some day. Where do we start, then - does anybody have any published sources or will it be a question of gooogle trawling? - ‡Pelican eats pigeon‡ message contributions 20:42, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
The University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web states:
“ Tufted puffins were historically hunted for food. Hunting puffins is discouraged nowadays in most places, and forbidden by law in others, but people who do still hunt them try to capture only non-breeding animals. In the past, skins were used to make tough parkas worn feather side in.... ”
They cite: (1) Kessel, B. 1989. Birds of Alaska. New York: University of Alaska Press and (2) Paul, T., W. Lehnhausen, S. Quinlan. 1994. ""Puffins" ADF&G Wildlife Notebook Series" (On-line). Accessed March 20, 2000 [1]. The first I don't have. The latter quotes 19th century naturalist Edward Nelson:
“ [Tufted Puffin] are extremely abundant about the Commander Islands where the natives capture them in hand-nets. The skins of both this and the other species are used by the Eskimo of the coast and islands for clothing, and the silky tufts of cirrhata are sewed into ornamental work by the Aleuts."... ”
But I don't have access to any of his works either. Anyways, its a start. Eliezg (talk) 23:03, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
I expanded the Tufted Puffin article considerably, with an all-too short comment on human hunting. Regarding Atlantic Puffin (which are beyond my Pacific-centric jurisdiction) I did stumble across some incredible images of hunting on Commons. Check out this and this! Regards, Eliezg (talk) 09:17, 10 January 2008 (UTC)