Sunday 21^st June comments: Happy Fathers Day and what better way to celebrate than telling you about the great dads in the seabird world; the Guillemot and Razorbill.

Both these birds have a very distinctive way of rearing their chicks to fledgling stage. Following incubation the young chicks of both species are tendered for by both parents until they reach 20-21 days old and then something remarkable happens. At this young age, when they still can’t fly or fend for themselves, the youngsters are encouraged to jump and scramble off the cliff ledges (regardless of cliff height) to meet their father on the sea below. This often happens towards dusk. It is at this stage the job for the mother is done and it’s all over to the father from now on. The dads will swim out with their chick that evening, having jumped off the cliff to reach the relative safety of the deep sea (in some case 60 miles out). The chick is still too young to fend for itself and the dad will undertake fishing trips whilst the chick waits patiently on the sea surface. Gradually the chick will increase in size, grow its flights feathers and learn how to dive and catch fish itself. This process can take up to two months and in all that time it’s just the dad doing all the hard work.

So hats off to the father Guillemots and Razorbills, you play your part. Happy Fathers Day.