Fishing for Salmon down the bay from Seward, there are cliffs. Puffins nest on those cliffs.
Gulls abound everywhere there is something to eat.
When the Bait fish come in the Puffins dive and catch whatever they go after.
When they get a fish they come to the surface for a second or two, catch a breath and fly off at a helluva pace. Its tough for anything to catch a Puffin on the wing.
So the Gulls, possibly the worlds most efficient scavenger, have learned to keep watch over a Puffin as he dives.
When the puffin surfaces, the Gulls are waiting to pounce. It has to happen in that instant too or the Puffin is gone and the Gulls have to wait for another Puffin.
I think....the Puffins know this, and find a way to surface where the Gulls aren't looking. It seems to work out that way.
But when the Gulls are looking in the right direction as the Puffin surfaces, they pounce on him. The Puffin does not get a chance to fly, so he dives.
Next time he comes up, plumb out of breath, the Gulls have more of a chance and he has to dive again.
More energy used. When he surfaces again the Gulls usually get their man. He just cannot get away and cannot dive again.
The Gulls will eat anything, and they usually tear up the Puffin and eat him on the spot. And of course all the Gulls for a mile clock to the scene and scramble noisily for part of the prize.
Life's tough in the Birds world.
Fishing with the Gulls n' Puffins. True story from AK.
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