Who else thinks puffins are the cutest birds ever?
I had the privilege of visiting Fair Isle during breeding season some years ago and was able to get up close and personal with these fluffed up clowns among seabirds.
Nicknamed ‘sea parrots’ because of their large parrot-like beaks, an outrageous orange colour in spring/summer, their comical appearance as they go about their business is a delight to watch.
Despite appearances puffins are also:
- Excellent flyers able to flap their wings up to 400 times a minute and they can speed through the air at up to 80km/hr
- Great swimmers, using their webbed feet as a rudder and diving up to 60m down into the water in search of food
But the thing I love most about these birds is how they care for their young…
Puffins often pair for life and both parents take turns incubating the egg. All this happens in their comfortable feather and grass lined burrow, dug into a grassy bank or rocky crevice – the nest is placed snugly at the back. I know I’d be content there as a new-born puffling!
And this is a great reminder of God’s care for us too (e.g. Isaiah 43:2, Psalm 23:1-3). He loves us unconditionally (Psalm 86:15, 1 Chron. 16:34, John 15:9) and, as with the puffins, He rejoices when we pair for life bringing up our children as He desires.
God bless you as you soak in His love and care today xx