Dead puffins wash ashore in Norway

Hundreds of dead puffins have been washing ashore in north-central Norway, according to Norway’s Aftenposten newspaper. Wildlife biologists have been baffled by what might be killing the unique, protected seabirds.

They suspect a poisonous jellyfish may be to blame.

Puffins nest on islands off the north-central Norwegian coast. A protected species in Norway, puffins are known for their large reddish-orange beaks, and are sometimes called “sea parrots.”

The puffins’ worst enemies to date have been oil pollution and fishing nets.

But scientists worry the puffins, who head for Norway’s coastal islands to nest in March and April, may have encountered poisonous jellyfish, as some people have reported spotting the birds flying erratically.

The jellyfish have been known to damage the eyes of salmon raised in Norway’s coastal fish farms.