SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — The Alderwood Puffin Patrol

Honourable senators, today I am pleased to present Chapter 57 of “Telling Our Story.”

Thousands of seabirds soaring through the air creating a symphony of sound, breaching humpback and minke whales, majestic and beautifully shaped icebergs, waves crashing on the seashore and refreshing ocean breezes are only some of the magic you can experience just a few minutes’ drive from our capital city of St. John’s to the four small islands that make up the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve.

Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the largest concentrations of seabirds in the world. The Witless Bay Reserve is the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in North America. There is no doubt that the reserve is one of nature’s greatest wonders anywhere on Earth. Although the islands are too sensitive to tolerate human presence, local tour boat operators offer a thrilling and exciting tour that you will never forget.

Nestled along the shoreline of the harbour overlooking the reserve in the town of Witless Bay is a seniors complex named the Alderwood Estates, and this is where my story becomes interesting. Within that seniors complex, we have a 10-member team of individuals ranging from 71 to 99 years of age who make up the Alderwood Puffin Patrol. Colleagues, these seniors are a true inspiration. Instead of sitting back and watching life pass by, along with the whales and puffins, these wonderful individuals are donning their reflective vests, grabbing their butterfly nets and flashlights, and heading out into the darkness to rescue baby puffin chicks.

The Puffin Patrol Program began in 2004, when Juergan and Elfie Schau from Germany were visiting their summer home in Witless Bay and noticed baby puffins had gone astray. Since the chicks are attracted to light, they often crash into buildings or get struck by motor vehicles. This is where the Alderwood Puffin Patrol comes to the rescue.

Watching these senior citizens scour the roadways and backyards of the community with their walkers and canes is an amazing sight to behold. Their determination to give back at their age is teaching us all a very valuable lesson, and the stories they share are priceless.

Eighty-eight-year-old Mr. Dave Melvin, who is originally from the small community of La Manche, says that at one time, the puffins were a source of protein for the 21 members of his family. He once hunted birds and puffins just to help put food on the kitchen table. He says, “If you had told me 70 years ago that I would be walking around Witless Bay with a pink butterfly net in my hand saving baby puffins, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

Then we have 84-year-old Mike Keiley, another senior puffin patroller and former fisherman from Petty Harbour, who says he joined the puffin patrol team initially for the social aspect. “Before this,” Mike said, “the only puffin I cared about was puffin’ on my cigarette butt, but searching through the ditches with a net trying to save a little puffin is exciting.”

At 99 years young, Mrs. Nora Normore, who hails from the town of St. Vincent’s, is renowned as the world’s oldest puffin patroller and has the distinction for having the most years of service. She made her first successful puffin rescue more than 25 years ago when driving home from mass on a Saturday evening with her daughter, Sister Ann Normore. She tells us that they saw a baby puffin on the side of the road in Witless Bay and stopped to help. They wrapped the bird up in her coat and took it home to Tors Cove. The before-their-time conservationists even had the foresight to buy some worms on the way home to feed the puffin. They released the puffin the next morning and watched it fly out to sea. From that day forward, she was hooked on saving the baby chicks.

I cannot forget my good friend, Mrs. Bride Martin, also from St. Vincent’s, who, at the tender age of 90 years, is so proud to be a member of the puffin patrol team.

Eighty-eight-year-old Mrs. Jose Whalen was encouraged to join the puffin patrol by her daughter, Carmel; her granddaughter, Wendy; and her great-granddaughter, Kate. With four generations of the Whalen family involved in the puffin patrol now, it has grown into a family affair.

— Norman Vincent Peale once wrote, “Live your life and forget your age.” There is no doubt that the senior citizens who comprise the Alderwood Puffin Patrol in Witless Bay are definitely doing just that. We congratulate and thank them for saving the puffins, and teaching us all a little about the important things in life.