Strange But True Part 63

1. In 1883, following 13 years of construction, New York's Brooklyn Bridge was opened -- a marvel of engineering and the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time. Only six days after its opening, somebody fell down the steps of the bridge causing a stampede of people getting off resulting in the death of twelve people. The public began to have doubts about the bridge's stability and safety. Seeing an opportunity, circus owner P.T. Barnum came up with a plan to put the public's mind at ease about the bridge's safety. He took his troop of elephants, led by the famous Jumbo, for a walk across the bridge's expanse. The sight of twenty-one elephants as they crossed the bridge ended the rumours about the bridge and was a great promotional opportunity for Barnum's circus. The story was made into a children's book called "Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing" by April Jones Prince. Have you read the book?

2. The "tossing" of baby puffins, called pufflings, in Iceland is a vital community tradition to save them. Once the puffins have their babies, the adult birds leave their nests, essentially leaving their babies to fend for themselves. In the late summer, locals and volunteers collect the confused pufflings, care for them, and then take them to cliffs to be gently tossed into the air to initiate their flight to the ocean. This practice, especially prominent in the Westman Islands, provides a crucial boost for young puffins, enabling them to navigate to the ocean and survive for their first few years at sea. Volunteers help out when they get disoriented by city lights and can't find the sea. Have you ever seen puffins in person (we saw them in Newfoundland this year, and they are just adorable)?