The attraction that draws this huge number of birds here is a combination of predator -free nesting sites and the ocean's bounty of small fish. Among the most common of the birds to be seen are the murres. They look like penguins except that they can fly. Murres lay a single pear-shaped egg on a cliff ledge. It is not uncommon for the eggs to fall into the sea below.
Murres nest in colonies on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and in the Arctic.
Collectively, these birds belong to the Auk family. All are small to medium-sized birds with stout, chunky bodies. Their legs are well back on their bodies to allow them to swim better. Auks literally fly under water using their wings to propel them along. Virtually all species nest in colonies.