The Icelandic Canadian - 01.04.2007, Blaðsíða 6

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 61 #1
Editorial
One flew over the Puffin’s nest in Iceland
by Brian Gudmundson
Over 80% of birds in Iceland are
described as “vagrant” or not a native
species. Perhaps the customs officials in
Iceland have been “lax to let in such for-
eigners”. Or, perhaps the birds themselves
have spread the word how great Iceland is
as a destination spot.
Iceland is the home to over 240 kinds
of birds. Of these 72 nest regularly, 6 are
common passage migrants, about 30 are
regular drift migrants or winter visitors,
and the rest end up accidentally in Iceland.
Sea birds, waterfowl and waders are the
most common indigenous birds. Birds in
Iceland have been a significant part the his-
tory, economy and culture.
Decades ago, Icelanders relied upon
their birds to provide essential living mate-
rials such as eggs, meat and down for blan-
kets. Prior to 1900 such provisions were
part of survival for many Icelanders.
Today, a few in Iceland continue to harvest
wild bird eggs on a sustainable basis. In the
town of Heimaey in the Westmann Islands,
teenagers continue to scoop up young
puffins, leaving their nests during July.
Most are released to the sea but a few are
flown to Reykjavik for annual celebrations
of the renewal of new life. Icelanders have
a close tie to their birds and an understand-
ing of their importance to their eco-system.
On the towering bird cliffs along the
coast of Iceland, the most important sea
birds are the common guillemot,
Brunnich's guillemot, the razorbill, the
puffin, the kittiwake, the fulmar and the
gannet.
The most well known birds in Iceland
include the Gyr Falcon (Government
emblem) and the Puffin (unofficial “ambas-
sador” for Iceland). A decree by the King
of Denmark of October 3, 1903 stipulated
that Iceland’s coat of arms should be “a
white Icelandic gyrfalcon on a blue field.”
After Iceland’s coat of arms was changed in
1919, a decree was issued in 1920 prescrib-
ing a special Icelandic royal flag showing an
Icelandic gyrfalcon.
Iceland is one of the major breeding
grounds of waterfowl in Europe, and Lake