Puffins spend 1 to 2 years in the area where they were hatched. When the parents leave for the winter they are on their on. Many are confused by the lights of the town and land inland. Apparently they have difficultly taking off from land (unless on the cliffs where the nests are located). So shool kids go out after dark and search for any pufflings on the ground. They are checked out and released back at the cliffs.