By Gary Randall
The Mountain Times
With the latest news about puffins being spotted on Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach as well as the news about the new Oregon license plate that features puffins, the birds are riding a tide of popularity here in Oregon. It was a surprising coincidence that I heard about both while I was in Iceland photographing the scenery and a colony of puffins.
I have photographed puffins in Oregon but that was long ago, and the birds were in the distance. The same went for my attempts in Alaska: I have puffin photos, but they were so small that they were hardly worth attention. I love puffins and photographing them in close proximity has always been a dream of mine. I finally had the chance last month during a photography trip of a lifetime.
I spent ten days exploring this incredible island but as epic as the landscapes are there, spending time with a puffin colony was certainly close to the top of my list of highlights from the trip. We drove to one of the furthest north villages on Borgarfjörður eystri, a fjord in northern Iceland, just to photograph them.
In the little settlement of Bakkagerði, there is a colony of Atlantic Puffins you can sit with at a close distance. The village has a colony of over 10,000 mating pairs that nest there from April to mid-August. There is a staircase that leads up onto a rock promontory through the colony of birds. Guardrails keep visitors on the boardwalk. Halfway up the staircase there is a small wooden building that was built as a blind that photographers can get out of the weather and photograph the birds without them knowing. I was in heaven – many of the birds were as close as a meter or two away.
The puffins of Bakkagerði are protected by law during the breeding season, ensuring their safety and well-being. The village is committed to responsible tourism and conservation and maintaining a healthy puffin population. There is a large sign educating about the birds, as well as how donations can be made for their care. The village has created a model for sustainable wildlife tourism in Iceland.
Because we were there during 24-hour daylight we spent the whole night photographing these fascinating little birds coming and going. They would fly off for food and then return with a beak full of little fish. I found it almost impossible to get a good photo of them with fish in their mouths because as soon as they flew in, they would dive into their little borough in the dirt in an attempt to evade the sea gulls who would be glad to have the puffin’s meal. The birds were fun to watch as they went about their business.
In the end of a tiring but incredible night spent photographing puffins. I came home with some great photos, yet I cannot wait to return. I think that the next time I am in Bakkagerði I will be less pressured by trying to get great photos and will pay more attention to just spending time with them.
I will probably buy the Oregon puffin license plate and will still pursue a good photo of our local puffins on the Oregon Coast, but until then I have my Iceland puffin photos to enjoy.
If you have even considered taking a trip to Iceland, do it and do not forget your camera.