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Adopt-A-Puffin

Mailing Address:
Project Puffin
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, New York 14850
Ph: 607-257-7308
Fx: 607-257-6231
puffin@audubon.org

 

News From the Seabird Islands - September 15, 2009

Dear Project Puffin Friends:

It isn’t often that you can visit one of the world's most incredible seabird islands, escape the doldrums of late winter weather in a sunny subtropical climate and support the Maine seabird conservation efforts of Project Puffin!

I'd like to invite you to join me next March 1 - 9, 2010 at Hawaii's Midway Atoll, a spectacular U.S. National Wildlife Refuge that is home to hundreds of thousands of Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses, White Terns, Red-tailed Tropicbirds, Red-footed Boobies and Great Frigatebirds. The islands are also home to endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals, Green Turtles and Spinner Dolphins.
Atlantic Puffin Flying with Fish

Laysan Albatross

By special permit, our group of 13 travelers and 2 leaders are the only visitors on the entire Atoll during our week-long visit. It's like having the Galápagos Islands to ourselves and less than 200 travelers have the privilege to spend a week there in 2010! Birding here is fantastic and wildlife photography is spectacular many unwary birds are almost within arms reach! The islands are flat and easy to travel around. Our pace is relaxed with lots of time available for individual pursuits.

For birders there is an amazing assortment of tropical Pacific seabirds including some difficult to see species like Bonin Petrels and Christmas Shearwaters. The star of the show for birders is the famous "Golden Gooney" - the Short-tailed Albatross (one of the world's rarest albatrosses, at 2200 individuals.) Three or four come ashore on Midway making the atoll the easiest place in the AOU area to add this species to your list!

Nature photographers could spend weeks shooting here! There are so many charismatic species to photograph at the nest, and with chicks, in exciting courtship display and in flight. Countless hours can be spent enjoying them.

Relics of World War II and the history of the Battle of Midway add additional interest. The weather is balmy and the potential for glorious sunsets is high. Midway is a place I could visit over and over again it's easily one of the top wildlife trips every nature enthusiast should do in a lifetime! The food here is great, accommodations very comfortable, and getting around the islands is very easy! Golf carts provide group transportation or you can rent a bicycle and also explore on your own!

I am currently an advisor to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on their seabird attraction programs at Midway for Short-tailed Albatross, Bulwer's Petrel and Tristram's Storm-petrel. The last two of these are believed to have nested previously at Midway, but were eliminated by rats introduced to the island. Now that the rats have been removed, our Project Puffin attraction techniques decoys, recorded bird calls and artificial burrows are helping to restore these lost colonies.

My co-leader on this trip is Joe Van Os. Joe and I have a long history that dates back to a time when we worked together as birdlife instructors at the Audubon Camp in Maine on Hog Island for ten summers. Joe also did a stint on Eastern Egg Rock during the early years of Project Puffin. These days he is a professional wildlife photographer, naturalist and tour leader. Joe and I will interpret the natural history of the seabirds we encounter as well as offering you tips to make the most of the atoll s fantastic photo opportunities.

Along with an amazing and exclusive trip to this remote and remarkable wildlife refuge, your travels with me also aid in our ongoing seabird restoration programs, as a significant part of your trip fee goes directly to Project Puffin!

The fee for our trip is $6895 from Honolulu which includes a $2200 round-trip airfare to Midway. You can learn more details about our travels by clicking http://www.photosafaris.com/photography-trips-2010/midway-project-puffin/ which provides our itinerary and enrollment information. Space is limited to just 13 participants, so I hope you will sign up early to reserve yourself a place.

I look forward to joining you in Honolulu where we will board our flight to one of the most incredible wildlife refuges of the United States.

Best Wishes,
Steve Kress
Director

 

News From the Seabird Islands - August 21, 2009

All of the Project Puffin interns returned to the mainland by August 10 and participated in the annual meeting of the Gulf of Maine Seabird Working held on Hog Island August 12th . At this meeting seventy five seabird biologists from Massachusetts to New Brunswick reported on the outcome of the 2009 field season in the morning. The afternoon was dedicated to student research presentations and a discussion of pending wind development in the Gulf of Maine. Following the meeting, this year’s group of interns began their own migration home - some as far as Haiti and Puerto Rico.
Atlantic Puffin Flying with Fish

Puffins continued to find large herring
to feed their young throughoutthe nesting season,
leading to early fledging of healthy chicks
photo by Derrick Jackson

A post seabird nesting season landbird banding program has begun at several Maine National Wildlife Refuge islands, but hurricane Bill, heading toward Maine today led to the evacuation of interns from the islands. The storm (with 10-16’ seas) also led to the removal of the puffin cam to higher ground. The cam will return after the storm.

The final count of puffins at Egg Rock broke all of our previous records. The colony increased this year to 107 pairs and among these were 12 new pairs. This follows the remarkable increase of the restored puffin colony at Seal Island NWR which increased from 375 pairs to 425 pairs with 58 new pairs. Most of the pairs successfully fledged young which were in excellent condition due to the record amounts of Herring.

Planning for the perfect seabird winter vacation?

Consider joining Steve Kress and photographer Joe Van Os for a visit to MIDWAY ISLAND - one of the world’s most important seabird nesting islands. Click here for more details about this benefit trip for Project Puffin: http://www.photosafaris.com/photography-trips-2010/midway-project-puffin.

 

News From the Seabird Islands - August 9, 2009

The soaking rains of June continued into July. The weather station on Eastern Egg Rock recorded 12.9 inches in July, the wettest July in the past 18 years. Prior to this year, the average July rain was just 3.5 inches. We will evaluate the impacts of this record rainfall on the various species this fall when all of the data from our seven islands is available. Without the unusually good supply of herring, the heavy rainfall would have likely been much more devastating. More herring than usual helped this year’s seabird chicks to keep warm and grow to fledging age. Here are a few of the highlights from the past three weeks:

  • The restored puffin colony at Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge increased to at least 425 pairs - a 13% increase since 2008. The rapidly growing colony included at least 58 new pairs!
  • Five Manx Shearwater burrows were discovered at Matinicus Rock. Occasional burrows have been found at this remote National Wildlife Refuge, but never more than one. This year five active burrows were discovered near each other. To reduce the risk of disturbance they will not be checked for eggs or chicks until later in the nesting season. These are the only nesting Manx Shearwaters in the United States.

    • Manx Shearwaters excavated five new burrows at Matinicus Rock. Activity was documented at all burrows with a night vision automatic camera.

    Manx Shearwater adult outside its nesting burrow
    photo by BirdCam

    Manx Shearwater flying near Matinicus Rock
    photo by J. Aramarillo

    ISLAND UPDATES

    Outer Green Island - Despite heavy rain throughout the summer, nesting Common Terns fledged on average 1.5 chicks per nest - an excellent success rate. There were also some unusual visitors to the island during late July including a Brown Thrasher on the 18th as well as a Razorbill, several Atlantic Puffins and a Black-billed Cuckoo, which the terns chased around, on the 23rd. The island closed for 2009 on July 28th.

    Stratton Island - A Peregrine Falcon began attacking adult and fledgling terns on July 18th, forcing many to depart the island. Fortunately, this was late enough in the season that many pairs had already finished rearing their young. Despite the Peregrine attacks, Roseate Terns achieved an impressive 1.3 fledglings per nest. The shorebird migration is now underway with more than 100 each of Semipalmated Sandpipers, Willet, and Short-Billed Dowitchers. An occasional Hudsonian Godwit and Wimberal were also observed. This team is spending much of its time now battling invasive oriental bittersweet which left unmanaged would overgrow and kill heron nesting trees.

    Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge - A Merlin repeatedly attacked the island throughout July, taking a number of adult Common Terns and chicks. Interns spent much of their time attempting to chase the bird from the island. Their efforts helped to assure that many Common Terns successfully fledged.

    Eastern Egg Rock - So far, 93 active puffin burrows have been discovered on the island and likely more will be found before the season ends. During mid-late July island interns reported more than 150 puffins sitting on the boulders. Many of the puffin chicks have fledged while others are nearing their fledge date most will not return until they are 2 or 3 years old. July kept the interns busy with puffin trapping (to replace worn leg bands).

    Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge - The Common and Arctic Tern chicks have fledged and are staging around the island before winging their way to southern latitudes. Likewise, puffin chicks have begun to fledge. It appears that the puffin colony on Seal Island has grown this year with a minimum of 58 new burrows identified to date! There are over 425 counted active burrows this year. Geolocators have been successfully attached to eight adult puffins to track their movements through the winter. Hopefully, this project will answer the mystery of where Maine's puffins go during the winter. Three of the four puffins with geolocators attached in 2008 were resighted, but the geolocators were missing. This year’s tagging method will hopefully solve this problem.

    Matinicus Rock - In other exciting news an original transplanted puffin brought to Seal Island in 1988 was recaptured on Matinicus Rock this summer. It hasn’t been sighted since the early 1990s. A Red-billed Tropicbird has continued to fly between Matinicus Rock and Seal Island most of the summer and a Black-browed Albatross was seen in the waters off Seal and Matinicus Rock - a first Maine state record.

     

      News From the Seabird Islands - July 2, 2009

     

    The first weeks of July were wetter and cooler than most years—though not as wet as June. This was good news for terns, which suffered from the heavier-than-usual June rain. On the brighter side, most islands are reporting an exceptionally good summer for herring—an important component of puffin and tern diets. Atlantic herring are an excellent source of calories for rapidly growing chicks. These calories are helping counteract the weight loss caused by low temperatures and chilling rain. As a result, we are seeing surprisingly high success rates for Common and Roseate Terns at Stratton Island, Outer Green Island, Jenny Island, and Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge. However, the heavy rain at Eastern Egg Rock contributed to significant tern chick mortality, despite good food supplies. Puffin chicks have largely survived the weather, and some are now approaching six weeks. Very soon they will be fledging and leaving the islands. Then they will live at sea for the next two to three years. This appears to be another excellent year for puffins on Maine islands.

    EVENTS

  • The seabird art of Paul Bartlett will be auctioned at Hog Island Audubon Center on Thursday, July 26th. Join us for this fun event by contacting Project Puffin Visitor Center 1-877-4-PUFFINS. Remote bids can be made by phone for those that can’t attend. Paul will also speak about his art on July 22nd at Project Puffin Visitor Center at 5PM. More about the auction and a view of the art is available at: http://www.projectpuffin.org/PaulBartlettAuction.html

  • The puffin cam is back! An electrical storm hit the transmitting tower above Rockland and interrupted the signal, but now it is repaired and the puffins are performing live again. Visit them at: http://www.projectpuffin.org/PuffinCam.html

    ISLAND UPDATES

    Eastern Egg Rock - It has been a challenging breeding season for Egg Rock terns as the Laughing Gull colony has increased and the abundant rain has taken a toll. On the bright side, the first Common Tern chick successfully fledged on July 13th and some are now flying! So far, we have confirmed 80 puffin burrows—including one new burrow! Our researchers are now “grubbing” for puffin chicks to measure and band them, and trapping adult puffins that need new leg bands.

    Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge - The seabirds of Seal Island have been enjoying plentiful food this year, with good supplies of highly desirable herring. Two new Razorbill burrows have been discovered, bringing the total to 13 Razorbill burrows, up from 11 last year. As of July 13th, some of the Common and Arctic Tern chicks had fledged. A count of over 600 puffins at once was recorded during this period- a new record one time count. Of the four puffins that received geolocators in 2008 to help discover the puffin’s mysterious winter home, one bird has not been seen this year and two of the remaining three have lost the devices. A fourth puffin is still incubating and researchers are waiting for it’s chick to hatch to see if the device is still present. The geolocators record the locations of puffins throughout the year, but must be taken off of the birds to download the data. We will be attaching eight new geolocators soon. The Red-billed Tropicbird that was present during most of June made a short reappearance in mid-July and recently a Black-browed Albatross was seen near the island.

    Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge - The food supply on Pond Island this year includes abundant herring and sand lance, as well as butterfish being brought in by the terns. Our researchers have been diligently trying to chase off a Merlin and capture a second Great Horned Owl—both of which have been predating the tern adults and chicks. They are working night shifts in their efforts to trap the owl.

    Stratton Island - Several large thunderstorms passed through on the July 4th weekend. These storms, combined with frequent raids by a Peregrine Falcon that chased parent birds off their eggs and chicks, resulted in exposure to the cold and chilling weather, killing 27 Least Tern chicks. Because of their smaller body mass, Least Terns may be especially susceptible to extreme weather and they are too small to eat the abundant herring that is helping the larger terns. A late second nesting of Least Terns may yet help to boost numbers here. Elsewhere on the island, Common and Roseate Terns are thriving. Many of the older Common Tern chicks are now flying around the island, and more Roseate Terns are hatching. And there is still more good news—on July 11th, a new American Oystercatcher nest was found- the third pair for this year!

    Matinicus Rock - The puffin grubbing season has begun. In the coming weeks, about 100 puffin chicks will be carefully removed from their burrows to receive leg bands. Tern chicks are flying, and most of the young Razorbills have fledged. This year, predation by Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls has been heavy. Perhaps the poor weather and low price of lobsters has kept more lobster boats back in the harbor than usual. This makes the gulls hungrier than usual, as they typically feed on discarded lobster bait. In its absence, some gulls become chick predators, taking a heavy toll on young Razorbills. It was likely a Herring or Great Black-backed Gull that destroyed the Murre egg—the first seen on Matinicus Rock since 1883. Though that egg is gone, the Murre parents and others will likely return in 2010 to try again.

    Outer Green Island - Early in the month, the tern chicks were fed largely on butterfish. By July 14th, the chicks were being fed mostly herring, as well as hake, and an occasional moth or butterfish. Many of the chicks are now large, and the first flying fledgling was seen on the 10th. A big re-nesting of Common Terns began on the 14th; this may help make up for the nests lost earlier this season from rain. The Black Guillemot chicks are getting large enough to receive leg bands. Exciting bird sightings included Eastern Kingbirds, Blackburnian Warblers, and Blackpoll Warblers, as well as an Atlantic Puffin and Razorbill which are rarely seen this far south.

    Jenny Island - The last days of this short research season were eventful and productive. Two of the three Roseate Tern nests have hatched and the chicks are already developing flight feathers. They will likely be on their way to Brazil shortly. Most of the fish brought in during the feeding studies consisted of hake, herring, butterfish, and cunner. The 4th of July thunderstorms brought dime-sized hailstones to this small island. Without time to dry out, even an unopened box of spaghetti developed mold. As the last of the blinds were being taken down and the island readied for its early closing, the tern chicks began to fly—a perfect send-off for the island’s protectors!

     

    News From the Seabird Islands - July 2, 2009

    As June came to an end, the seabird stewards living on seven Maine coast islands have much to report - despite seemingly endless rain and fog. Twenty-one days in June had precipitation ranging from drizzle to downpour. So far the rain has not had a serious impact on the puffins and other seabirds that nest underground, but surface nesting birds- especially the terns are more vulnerable - especially as chicks become too large to find shelter under their parent’s wings. At Eastern Egg Rock, 13.5 inches of rain were recorded which compares to an average of just 3.4 inches over the past 19 years. This equals the previous most rainy June - 2006. Rain, drizzle and cold northeast wind have kept the island stewards inside their tents and cabins more days than usual, so that terns can protect their young from chilling weather, but this gives predatory gulls and opportunity to raid nests.
    Atlantic Puffin with Herring by Stella Walsh

    Common Murre Egg
    photo by Maria Cunha

    FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

    The highlight of June was the discovery of a Common Murre egg on a remote cliff at Matinicus Rock. This nesting is the culmination of a 17 year effort using decoys, mirrors and sound recordings. Murres were last known from Matinicus Rock in 1883 and have not nested south of the Canadian border until this summer.

    To learn more about the murre discovery, click on: http://www.projectpuffin.org/MurreEgg.html

    The first Common Murre egg at Matinicus Rock offers hope that murres will found a new colony, expanding their range to its southern limit in the United States. Protected by Audubon and the Fish and Wildlife Service, the island is a secure nesting place as part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

    Paul Bartlett exhibit still on display at Project Puffin Visitor Center, and benefit auction is planned for July 26th

    Flocks and Stocks—the art of Scottish seabird artist Paul Bartlett—remains on exhibit at our Rockland visitor center. Learn more about the exhibit, this prize-winning artist, and the art auction on Hog Island: http://www.projectpuffin.org/PaulBartlettExhibit.html

    A benefit auction is planned at beautiful Hog Island Audubon Center in Midcoast Maine on July 26th . The auction will feature the work of award winning Scottish artist and biologist Paul Bartlett. To purchase tickets and learn more about the event, click on: http://www.projectpuffin.org/PaulBartlettAuction.html

    ISLAND UPDATES

    Eastern Egg Rock - Most of the tern chicks have hatched and the annual tern census found 101 Roseate Tern pairs, 100 Arctic Tern pairs, and 1,102 Common Tern pairs. Unfortunately, this represents a 27% decline in Roseate Terns at this largest colony in the Gulf of Maine. Our concern is that increasing numbers of Laughing Gulls are forcing the terns from the island. Laughing Gulls increased to 2,174 pairs this summer- up by 10% over 2008. In contrast, puffin numbers are thriving, with 42 pairs already feeding young. We are especially pleased that all of the puffins in the Adopt-A-Puffin program have returned and most have already been confirmed rearing young. This includes our two oldest puffins - each 32 years old this summer.

    Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge - The Common and Arctic Tern colonies are thriving with 932 counted Arctic Terns and 1636 Common Terns. This is a 200 pair increase over 2008. The first tern chicks were noticed on June 19th and the day after the first puffin feeding was observed. Over 500 puffins have been observed on many days this year and most puffin chicks have already hatched. For great views of the Seal Island puffins, Razorbills and even an occasional Common Murre, visit our PUFFIN CAM - where 30 or more puffins are often crowded around a puffin and razorbill decoy. It can be viewed online: http://www.projectpuffin.org/PuffinCam.html

    Matinicus Rock - The nesting Common Murre may have occurred because of the record numbers of murres attending he colony in late May and June. Over 100 murres were observed on many days and as many as 147 were observed. Also, 386 pairs of Razorbills were also found nesting. This is a 13% increase over the 343 pairs that nested here in 2008.

    Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge - Pond island has two confirmed Arctic Tern nests and 438 Common Tern nests. However, predators remain a problem. In early June a Great Horned Owl was trapped and relocated in northern Maine. Also, a Merlin is raiding the colony, taking adult terns.

    Jenny Island - The season started out with high tides washing out tern nests on the beach, but fortunately the terns did re-nest by the end of June. This season there are 537 common tern pairs and 3 Roseate Tern pairs-similar to last year. But this is the largest number of Roseates ever recorded- it probably points to the displacement at Egg Rock. The first tern chick appeared on June 16th and currently the researchers are busily banding chicks. So far no mink, Great Horned Owl, or Black-crowned Night Heron

    Outer Green Island - The first Common Tern chicks hatched on June14th. The tern colony has remained similar to last year with 837 Common Tern nests this year, an increase of nine new nests, and the appearance of two Arctic Tern nests. Chick mortality rates remain low with only three deaths, all rain related, and this is out of the 140 chicks that have hatched as of the 25th. The island's Black Guillemots' eggs are starting to hatch late into the month with three hungry chicks.

    Stratton Island - Along with high numbers of tern nests, there were two nests of Oystercatchers which hatched late into June. Two hybrid pairs of terns were sighted nesting on the island; a Common and Roseate pair and a Common and Arctic pair. The latter might be the first known nesting of this combination. Census counts confirmed 1,037 nests of Common Terns, 76 Roseate Terns, 12 Arctic Terns, and 82 Least Terns. Although rain has overlapped with the peak hatch, extreme tides have proven to be a greater problem, washing out some of the Least Terns and Common Tern nests. Much to the surprise of the resident interns, a few of the Least Tern eggs that were submerged have hatched and the chicks are thriving!

     

     

    News From the Seabird Islands - June 8, 2009

    Birdathon achieves near record high count

    A total of 193 species of birds were observed on the 21st Project Puffin Birdathon May 30th. And a total of 571 puffins were tallied- highest ever. Many thanks to all that participated and sent support.

    For more details visit: http://www.projectpuffin.org/Birdathon.html

    Adopt-A-Puffin for Father's Day
    Atlantic Puffin with Herring by Stella Walsh

    Flocks and Stocks
    painting by Paul Bartlett

    Acknowledge your favorite dad this Father’s day by giving him a gift puffin adoption for one of our super father puffins.

    Learn more about three featured puffin dads: http://www.projectpuffin.org/PPfathersDay.html

    Paul Bartlett exhibit opens at Project Puffin Visitor Center

    Flocks and Stocks—the art of Scottish seabird artist Paul Bartlett—is now on exhibit at our Rockland visitor center.

    Learn more about the exhibit, this prize-winning artist, and the art auction on Hog Island: http://www.projectpuffin.org/PaulBartlettExhibit.html

    ISLAND UPDATES

    The six island teams that took up residence on Maine seabird sanctuaries May 26th immediately found themselves in an extended period of cold and soaking weather that extended through most of May 30th—Birdathon day. The weather improved for the last day of May, but June came in with a sustained roar with winds reaching 46 mph! This flattened four of our bird blinds on Seal Island NWR and three on Eastern Egg Rock. The teams quickly rebuilt the blinds and have been busy this past week making observations. A few highlights follow:

    Eastern Egg Rock - The first puffins started feeding at Eastern Egg Rock on June 2th and the first of the Adopt-A-Puffin birds-EN+06 and BI98 were confirmed. Also, it appears that the same solitary Black Tern which laid an Egg last year is back and has another Egg. This is typically a marsh-nesting bird. Tern numbers appear to be high and Laughing Gulls seem to be taking over some of the Roseate Tern nesting habitat. Tern habitat improvement began in May.

    Matinicus Rock - At least one Peregrine Falcon has been spooking the colony in May and the Razorbill nest census is complete, but little additional information is available as our team is waiting for a new communication system and limited only to marine radio discussion.

    Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge - Our team on Seal Island is reporting frequent counts of more than 500 puffins at a time which bodes well for another excellent season. Productivity checks of puffin burrows are showing eggs present in most nests. The puffin cam is in place here and is daily showing crowds of puffins sitting near a puffin and razorbill decoys on a popular loafing ledge. Check the camera in the morning and early afternoon for the best views: http://www.projectpuffin.org/PuffinCam.html

    Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge - After days of rain and then powerful winds, the Pond Island team heard tern alarm calls early on June 2nd. At 5AM they discovered a Great Horned Owl was captured in one of their owl traps. This explained why the tern colony had been so spooky and why they were leaving their nests at night. The owl was taken that morning to Avian Haven a nearby wildlife rehabilitation center that will check the owl and release it far from the colony. Automatic temperature recording devices (I-button loggers) are now sampling nest temperatures here and at Jenny Island to monitor nocturnal abandonment.

    Jenny Island - The field camp here will be set up this year in mid June, but early visits have shown the colony to be large and vibrant. However, a Peregrine Falcon has visited recently and was seen killing an adult tern. Others were found dead on the island—likely killed by the Peregrine.

    Outer Green Island - In late May, a crippled Herring Gull took up residence here and began eating tern eggs, apparently caused several hundred pairs of terns to temporarily abandon. After the gull was removed, the full colony returned and many have eggs.

    Stratton Island - A Snowy Owl harassed the colony in early May when the island team set up camp. The owl is no longer on the island and the terns and herons have settled back to nesting. Heron and ibis numbers are similar to previous years and there is optimism that tern numbers are larger than previous years. Actual numbers will come from complete censuses of terns here and other colonies June 12-20th.

     

     

    News From the Seabird Islands - May 27, 2009

    2009 Seabird Season is launched!

    Atlantic Puffin with Herring by Stella WalshTwenty-two interns and volunteers completed training today at Hog Island Audubon Center in Bremen, Maine. This year’s team is notable for including interns from five countries. In addition to ten U.S. states and Puerto Rico, seven international interns are from Haiti, France, Japan and Canada. This year’s Josephine Daneman Herz International Seabird Fellow is Alcides Morales of Quebradillas, Puerto Rico and the recipient of the Duryea and Peggy Morton Seabird Internship is Yvan Satge from Pyrenees, France.

    Puffin Cam is LIVE!

    With assistance from the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuges, Project Puffin installed the Puffin Cam back on Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge and turned on the camera for all to see today.

    The puffin cam is an ingenious remote camera developed by SeeMore Wildlife Systems of Homer, Alaska. The camera sits on the outermost shore of Seal Island on a rock ledge frequented by puffins and razorbills. Already, more than a dozen puffins have been sighted on the rock- but watch carefully as the camera also shows a puffin and razorbill decoy (one each). The standing decoys have just one leg and don’t move or sit down.

    The puffin cam is sponsored by our friends at Barbara’s Bakery, maker of PUFFINS and WILD PUFFS cereals.

    To view the puffin cam, click on: http://www.projectpuffin.org/PuffinCam.html.

    Birdathon - May 30

    Project Puffin’s 21st birdathon is just three days away! There is still time to enter and have a chance at winning prizes by:

    1. Returning our mailing (which should have been received in the past two weeks);

    2. Printing our on-line birdathon form and faxing it to us by May 30 (fax # 207-529-5688).

    3. Donations of specific amounts can be made using credit cards on line by clicking on the green puffin on our website. Select ‘Donate now’ and make a note in the text box that this is a birdathon gift. Guess the number of puffins that we will see and the total number of birds we will see to be in the running for prizes.

    4. Pledges per number of species seen should be sent by e-mail to ‘projectpuffin@audubon.org’ with your name, address, and guesses for number of species seen and total number of puffins.

    5. Pledges for Birdathon pledges and gifts received after May 30 are also welcome, but will not count toward prizes.

     

    Research Updates from Past Seasons:

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