British wildlife recordings
Fratercula arctica : Puffin - Alcidae
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Type
sound
Duration
00:02:19
Shelf mark
W1CDR0001424 BD8
Subjects
Birds
Recording date
1965/06/11
Recording locations
Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire: OS Grid Reference(172500,209500)
Recordist
Shove, Lawrence
Species
Puffin, Fratercula arctica
Description
Calls and splashing sounds made by a small group of puffins on Skokholm Island, Pembrokeshire. These short stocky seabirds are one of the most recognisable birds in the world with their black and white markings, orange legs and brightly coloured bills. Puffins come in from the sea during spring and form large breeding colonies on offshore islands and high clifftops out of the reach of most predators. Preferring sandeels as their main food source, these small birds have been known to carry over 60 individuals in their beaks. Not a particularly vocal bird, they do emit a growl-like call which sounds like laughter when repeated. The majority of puffin colonies occur at only a few locations in the British Isles and their success is highly dependable on the presence of sufficient fish stocks.
Metadata record: