Tweets,



We received this request for Tufted Puffin life history information. Is
there anyone out there who could reply to her and/or refer her/us to an
appropriate expert? Thanks.



Gene Hunn, for the WOS Board

Lake Forest Park, WA

enhunn323 at comcast.net



From: Nancy Hertzel [mailto:Autumn207 at comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 5:21 PM
To: WOS board
Subject: Fwd: A writer with a question



Could someone respond to this person, please? Thanks.







Begin forwarded message:





From: Linda Borromeo <llborromeo at gmail.com>

Date: August 31, 2009 5:17:55 PM PDT

To: information at wos.org

Subject: A writer with a question



Hello,

I'm an author writing a book for children, and would appreciate your help
with a question I have about Tufted Puffins. I want to be accurate in my
description of when Tufted Puffins begin to lose their breeding plumage and
head back out to sea. The scene I am writing takes place on the Washington
State coast (Destruction Island area).

The information I've found usually mentions August, but it would be very
helpful to know about when in August the adult puffins revert to their
non-breeding plumage (the early, middle or late part of the month?). Do
they lose their breeding plumage about the same time they head out to sea,
or are they still at the nesting site after their plumage changes? Also, is
it about a week after the parents leave that the pufflings try to make their
way to the ocean?

Thank you very much for your help!

Linda Borromeo
Mount Vernon, WA