adUlt migrations | 57the South Georgia region in the summer. And, thirdly, 12 birds com-
pleted at least one eastward circumnavigation, while three of them
undertook a second circumpolar trip during their absence from Bird
Island. All the circumnavigators went eastward, propelled by the west-
erlies of these latitudes. The poet might wonder about the joy of open-
ing one’s wings and sliding downwind for a full circuit of the world we
inhabit. The scientist might wonder about the relative merits of these
distinct sabbatical strategies. Both could agree that the fastest circum-
navigation of 46 days, including spells averaging 950 km/day was stu-
pendous. Even modern yachts, able to surf the Southern Ocean’s swells
at 35 terrifying knots, would be hard pressed to keep pace with a Grey-
headed Albatross.
While the tern and albatross studies broadly confirmed pre- existing
knowledge, other studies have eliminated a total absence of knowledge.
The Atlantic Puffin with its colourful bill and comic mien breeds abun-
dantly on Britain’s offshore islands. It is a favourite among day- trippers
to accessible islands such as Skomer and the Farnes. Yet Puffins are
ashore only between April and August. They all but disappear in the in-
tervening months. The OxNav group, led by Tim Guilford, has shed
light on the winter travels of the Skomer Puffins.^6 In August, most birds
migrate away from the colony, most in a westerly or north- westerly di-
rection, some as far as Greenland, some more locally, whilst some move
southwards towards France and Biscay. In autumn, mostly October, all
move northwards or north-eastwards into the North Atlantic. Then,
later in the winter, they travel southwards, some as far as the Mediter-
ranean, before returning (from a variety of directions) to the colony in
spring.
Given these ramblings, it is not surprising that the Puffins’ winter
whereabouts were unknown. However they are not random ramblings;
individual birds take remarkably similar routes in successive years (see
page 136). Moreover, a similar study of the Puffins sharing Skellig Mi-
chael off west Ireland* with the island’s extraordinary monastic ruins
yielded comparable findings.^7 After breeding the Puffins headed west.
By September, some birds were off the coasts of Newfoundland and
- (^) Skellig Michael is the location of the final scene in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.