Kids in Iceland rescue confused birds that crash-land into objects

[matcom]

<snip>

VESTMANNAEYJAR, Iceland -- "Halt!" the policeman called to the pack of children roaming the docks at 2 a.m. Approaching cautiously, the officer handed them a puffin and then got back in his car and drove away.

The children put the "puffling," or puffin chick, into a cardboard box. Already, they had taken a half-dozen pufflings into custody that night. And there would be more.

Every August, for about two weeks, young pufflings on the island of Vestmannaeyjar off southern Iceland begin to migrate out to sea. But at night many of the birds mistake the town's light for the moon and crash-land onto parking lots, backyards and cars. The children form nocturnal rescue squads, roaming the island's only town in search of wayward birds.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB109399120604006248-IdjfoNilaZ3mpumZX2GaKaGm4,00.html

[bloom]

1. seems easier to turn off the light

Doesn't it stay light there quite late, anyway?