Project Puffin facts for kids
Project Puffin is a special program started by Dr. Stephen W. Kress. He worked with the National Audubon Society. The goal was to bring puffins back to islands where they used to nest. These islands are in the Gulf of Maine.
The project began in 1973. At that time, puffins were nesting in only two places in Maine. These places were Matinicus Rock and Machias Seal Island. Project Puffin wanted to help puffins return to Eastern Egg Rock Island. This island is in Muscongus Bay, about 6 miles (10 km) from Pemaquid Point. Young puffins usually return to the island where they were born. This fact helped guide the restoration efforts.
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Bringing Puffins Back Home
Project Puffin used a clever method to help the puffins. They brought young puffins from Great Island. These puffins were about 10 to 14 days old. They were moved to Eastern Egg Rock.
New Homes for Young Puffins
The young puffins lived in special man-made burrows. These burrows were made of sod. They stayed there for about one month. Biologists from Audubon fed them every day. They gave them fish with extra vitamins.
Tagging and Returning
When the puffins were old enough to fly, they got special tags. These tags helped people identify them later. After spending their first 2 to 3 years at sea, the hope was they would return. They were expected to come back to Eastern Egg Rock. This would help start a new puffin colony there.
Success on Eastern Egg Rock
Between 1973 and 1986, 954 young puffins were moved. They came from Great Island to Eastern Egg Rock. A total of 914 of these puffins successfully flew away from the island.
The first transplanted puffins started coming back in June 1977. To encourage them, wooden puffin statues were placed on rocks. This helped lure the birds ashore. It also encouraged them to explore their new home. The number of young puffins has slowly grown. In 1981, four pairs nested on the island. By 2001, the colony had grown to 37 pairs. In 2019, the total population reached 188 pairs.
Project Puffin Visitor Center
In 2006, the National Audubon Society opened a special place. It is called the Project Puffin Visitor Center. You can find it in Rockland, Maine.
What You Can See and Do
The Center has a live video display. You can watch puffins and other seabirds. These birds live at Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge. The exhibits also show natural history displays. You can learn about seabird conservation work. This work is done by the Audubon Society and its partners. There is also a film about Project Puffin. The Center also has an art gallery and a gift shop.
