Because of its location near some of the most productive fishing grounds in the world (or at least they used to be), Newfoundland is the nesting ground for many pelagic species of birds.
To see them, one simply has to walk out on a remote headland...
...and look down.
If there's an island off the tip of the headland...
...you're likely to see more interesting nesters.
Puffins build their nests in burrows...
...and often disappear into them when they see a photographer arrive.
Guillimots are less shy.
Many pelagic birds choose remote islands as a hedge against terrestrial predators like fox or rats. These black-legged kittiwakes choose steep cliffs for the same reason.
Nesting in large colonies also helps.
A large colony on an island with steep cliffs - perfect!.
Of course, these strategies offer only partial protection from avian predators, like this immature bald eagle.
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