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A baby puffin hatches recently at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Visitors to the center have the opportunity to view the young seabirds.
Photo courtesy the Alaska SeaLif
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Few people know it from visiting the Alaska SeaLife Center’s bird exhibit, but behind the scenes are sets of comfortable black boxes in rows — rows of bird condos — that have begun to serve as nesting sites for the Centers’ puffins.ÊÊ
Young puffin chicks have begun to emerge from these boxes in recent weeks.
This is the first time ever that the Alaska SeaLife Center has hatched and raised tufted puffin chicks.
The first eggs began to hatch in mid-July and now young puffins are large enough to occasionally meet visitors.Ê
Right now, the center has seven puffin chicks, including three horned puffins and four tufted puffin chicks.
By pre-reserving a place in a special Puffin Encounter tour, visitors can help feed the Center’s birds in exclusive behind the scenes environment.Ê Some lucky visitors may even have the opportunity to meet the aviary’s newest arrivals — depending on feeding schedules and the care needs of the young and fragile birds.
The Alaska SeaLife Center is a non-profit marine science facility dedicated to understanding, maintaining, and conserving the marine ecosystem of Alaska and the North Pacific through research, rehabilitation and public education.
The center’s research facilities and naturalistic exhibits immerse visitors in the dynamic marine ecosystems of Alaska.Ê
To learn more about the center, call (907) 224-6394 or visit www.alaska-sealife.org on the Web.
