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74 # R I S I N G Y O U T H C O M M U N I T Y I M P A C T The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is home to an estimated 260,000 pairs of Atlantic Puffins and 780,000 pairs of Leach's Storm-Petrels, attracting people from all over the world. But the baby pufflings face increasing mortality rates due to artificial light. The pufflings are meant to follow the natural light of the moon into the ocean, but many of them end up stranded following the artificial lighting of the coastal area instead. In partnership with Canadian Parks and Wilderness Newfoundland Labrador Chapter as well as the Canadian WIldlife Services, #RisingYouth grantee Mary Alliston Butt took part in a rescue project. She used her microgrant to purchase patrol kits for volunteers including flashlights, security jacket, boxes, net, gloves, and permits, as well as educational resources on the environmental effects of light pollution. Volunteers patrolled the communities surrounding Witless Bay Ecological Reserve for stranded pufflings. With the assistance of the Canadian Wildlife Services, the pufflings were released safely back into the ocean. Close to 700 pufflings were rescued with over 1000 volunteers participating in the program. " The biggest success achieved was being able to engage people worldwide about the effects light pollution has upon nocturnal migrating seabirds. People traveled from the United States, Germany, and more to be able to take part in this initiative. I wanted to ensure that people not only rescued these puffins, but knew WHY they were being stranded and HOW they could help. My biggest success was engaging over 1,000 people personally and nearly 10,000 people through media to educate on light pollution." MARY ALLISTON BUTT Puffin Patrol Mary Alliston Butt | $1,500 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador NEWFOUNDL AND AND L ABR ADOR St. John's is located on the Territory of Beothuk and Mi'kmaq. LEARN MORE AT WWW.WHOSE.LAND

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