Researcher Discovers 33-Year-Old Puffin Raising Chick in Canada

A remarkable discovery has emerged from Machias Seal Island, located about 19 kilometres southwest of New Brunswick’s Grand Manan Island. Researcher Daniel Oliker, a graduate student at the University of New Brunswick, found a 33-year-old Atlantic puffin, marked with a plastic band dating back to 1992. This extraordinary bird, now identified as JG18, is not only one of the oldest known puffins but is also raising a chick, highlighting the resilience of this species.

Oliker and his fellow researchers embarked on a mission last week to locate this specific puffin after another researcher spotted it with a faded green-and-white band. The bands, used by Canada Wildlife Services since the 1970s until the mid-1990s, served as a vital tracking tool for these seabirds. Around midnight, Oliker, along with his team, searched the puffin burrows, which are the resting spots for these birds after a day at sea.

After examining several nests, Oliker successfully identified the puffin by feeling the bands on its legs. “I felt one that felt a little bit different, and it was in the right location that we marked, so I pulled it out and it was the right guy,” he explained in an interview. The puffin displayed a calm demeanor during the process, allowing the researchers to replace its old plastic band with a new metal one, thus giving it a fresh identifier.

The discovery of this aging puffin is significant, as most puffins typically live into their mid-20s. Oliker expressed his excitement, noting, “Just to think of how many years he spent out on the open ocean. It’s fascinating to think about just how much this bird has gone through.” The presence of a healthy chick is encouraging, particularly as puffins face challenges this year due to a perceived lack of food sources.

Oliker pointed out that many eggs have failed to hatch this season, and several pufflings have died, making the survival of JG18’s chick even more remarkable. “It’s very probable that this puffin, being so old, has experience and knows what it’s doing,” Oliker noted. He conjectured that the puffin’s extensive life experience may contribute to its ability to find a suitable burrow and raise a chick even in challenging conditions.

The chick, described as a “decent size,” suggests that JG18 has successfully navigated the difficulties of the current breeding season. Nick Lund, a network manager for Maine Audubon, highlighted the broader threats facing Atlantic puffins, particularly in the Gulf of Maine. He explained that climate change poses significant risks, as warming waters are altering fish populations that puffins depend upon for food.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists puffins as “vulnerable,” indicating a high risk of extinction in the wild. Research indicates that puffin survival rates have declined over time, raising concerns for their population growth. Heather Major, a marine biology professor at the University of New Brunswick, noted that findings like JG18’s longevity provide critical data on puffin ecology, particularly in light of recent environmental changes.

Oliker hopes to continue monitoring JG18 in the coming years. “Now that he has a new band, we can come up with a name,” he said, expressing enthusiasm about the possibility of observing this remarkable bird for years to come. The story of JG18 not only underscores the resilience of these seabirds but also highlights the ongoing challenges they face in a changing environment.