Charitable Fundraising Initiative
Join us and help save the puffins! A renowned photographer needs your assistance to protect endangered species. Don’t wait—take action now and join us on this mission! With every Puffin Photography Tour, we will donate a proportion of the profits to organizations that preserve the puffin population.
Join us for a case of “Puffinitis” as we work to save the Puffins.
Famed Photographer Pamela Goodyer’s ‘Puffinitis’ Spurs Charitable Fundraising Initiative.
Join us as we embark on a journey to save the puffins. Pamela Goodyer ventured to the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland with a mission to capture its raw beauty. As her journey unfolded, something remarkable happened – her newfound love for the majestic birdss. She was so mesmerized by them she coined the phrase “puffinitis”. Pam has since been afflicted with an incurable case and vows to help her friends as their numbers are declining quickly.
With every Puffin Photography Tour, we will donate a portion of the profits to organizations that work to preserve their populations.
Habitat loss, overfishing, and algae blooms harm birds’ breeding habitats. An estimated 30% of North Atlantic breeding puffins are likely already lost, with a further 10-30% expected over the next 20-50 years.
We are looking to partner with a nonprofit organizations in Iceland and the USA that work to save these magnificent birds.
If you are interested in partnering with Extra Eyes Photo Tours and Pamela Goodyer to help conserve the puffins, please fill out our contact form with your phone number and interest.
THEY LIVE AT SEA
Puffins are usually only visible during a particular time of the year; they usually live on the ocean’s surface and come ashore only to breed, lay eggs, care for them until they hatch, and raise their chicks. These activities occur throughout the summer in Iceland, with the viewing season starting in June and ending in August or September. When nesting, they are easy to see and approach; despite being hunted and having their eggs collected in Iceland for a thousand years, they have little fear of humans, allowing people to get as close as a meter to them in some areas. This offers an incredible chance to connect with nature and create some of the most stunning photographs of these birds in their natural environment.
STOP EATING THE BIRDS!
Foreign visitors might be shocked, as we were, by the idea of eating this beloved—and sometimes human-like—bird with its striking beak. However, it is a cherished tradition for the 332,000 citizens of Iceland. We were horrified by the thought of puffins being consumed in home-cooked meals or even at social events, so we chose not to discuss it during our travels. Instead, we will celebrate these charming creatures as part of the diverse and wondrous wildlife offered by Mother Nature.
Puffins are a type of seabird found near coastlines worldwide, but they are especially plentiful in Iceland. With its cool climate and rocky landscape, the island nation is ideal for them to nest and breed. They are small seabirds living along the North Atlantic Ocean coasts. They have a lifespan of about 20 years, with the oldest recorded one reaching 36. Their bills are colorful, featuring black, white, and orange markings. they nest in colonies on rocky cliffs and islands, where they breed and raise their young. During the breeding season, they can be seen flying over Iceland’s waters and can dive up to 200 feet underwater to hunt for food, primarily eating small fish like herring and capelin. Puffin chicks leave their nests after about six weeks of incubation. Theyt have been hunted and their eggs collected for centuries in Iceland. Their populations are declining due to habitat loss and tide changes.
The decline of the puffin population has become a global issue, prompting international collaborations between scientists and conservationists to explore potential solutions. Researchers are working together to find ways to mitigate the effects of naturally occurring weather cycles on ocean water temperature. The fish that the bird rely on to feed their young have become too large for the babies to consume, causing a significant reduction in the population.
FOOD SOURCES
Innovative strategies are being developed for various approaches to saving the population. For example, one team of scientists is studying the effect of ocean currents on the distribution of food sources, while another is researching methods for restoring and protecting their habitats.
These researchers have identified several key areas that must be addressed to protect the population. The first is to understand the impact of ocean currents on the distribution of puffin food sources.
The second key area that needs to be addressed is the conservation of puffin habitats. Scientists can ensure their populations remain healthy and stable by creating a safe environment where these birds can thrive. This includes ensuring the protection of nesting sites and providing sufficient food.
DECLINING POPULATION
Erpur Snær Hansen, a biologist, discussed the latest data on RÚV and revealed that the puffin population has dropped by an alarming 70% since 1995, much greater than the 40% decrease previously thought to be the case.
STOP EATING THEM!
Request Iceland’s President Jóhannesson to preserve their puffins. Since 1995, the country’s puffin population has decreased by an unprecedented 70%, and one way to prevent further decline is to outlaw hunting. Numerous regions of Iceland rely on puffins for tourism, and hunting only profits a few individuals.
President of Iceland:
Address: Sóleyjargata 1, 101 Reykjavík (Iceland).
Telephone: +354 540 4400. Email: forseti@forseti.is
PAMELA GOODYER – A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF PUFFINITIS
I saw several puffins on the edge of the cliff. The air seemed to vibrate with a divine energy, and I knew I was experiencing nature in its purest form. As if on cue, more birds descended around me until they surrounded me. I felt my soul soar as I connected with these creatures of flight in a way that defied description. I traveled from a faraway land like a higher power had brought us together.
My mind filled with awe as vibrant puffins emerged from the clouds, swooping gracefully over the rocky shoreline. A surge of electrifying dopamine rushed through my veins as more and more puffins flocked near me, unafraid of my presence. I noticed a spiritual connection awakened deep within me, connecting me to all these beautiful birds. Every breath seemed to sharpen and heighten my senses beyond belief. My photographer’s glory intensified until I could barely contain it.
I instantly declared I had a massive case of puffinitis. – The absolute extreme love of puffins. I coined another phrase in an intense moment of photography grandeur. I was utterly captivated by moments of a spiritual connection to the birds during that time. I could sense a power emanating from the birds, an aura of awe and wonderment—the sun’s descent on the horizon. The Universe was painting a masterpiece, the colors intertwining with each other in perfect harmony. By adjusting my settings, I ensured that no beauty emanating from the power and aura of awe and wonderment would be lost in the shadows. This was a defiant act against darkness. I wanted to share this exquisite miracle with the world, so I took hundreds of photos. I craved to stay in this exact moment for eternity, entranced by this spiritual perception and determined to photograph until I could adjust no longer to fight the darkness.
Although the sun did not fully set in Iceland, it was about midnight, and the light was shallow, so I had to end my photography. I added special photography moments to my list of lifetime memories, such as the hundreds of eagles soaring above Conowingo Dam, being alone at Sunset Point in Bryce Canyon, watching the sunrise and feeling surrounded by a herd of elk outside Mount Rainier National Park.
