Puffins were once on the brink of extinction, but efforts by Maine scientists have succeeded in bringing the population back. There are now 1,300 nesting pairs on five Maine islands. We’ll talk with puffin experts about the threats facing this unique seabird, and how conservation efforts continue to protect puffins and their habitat in the face of climate change as well as other threats.
This show is being done in conjunction with Maine Public's recent reporting on puffin conservation, and is part of Maine Calling's ongoing coverage of what is iconic in Maine.
Guests
Steve Kress, executive director, seabird restoration program, vice president, bird conservation, National Audubon Society
Linda Welch, refuge biologist, Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Resources
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Atlantic Puffin
- Audubon Project Puffin
- Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge
- Interns Call Summer Gig Monitoring Puffins On Maine Island 'A Dream Come True'
- Behind The Story: Reporting On The Puffin Project On A Remote Maine Island
- He speaks for the sea: Whale watch guide includes puffins in his repertoire
- It's Been a Tough Year for Puffins on Machias Seal Island (2016)
- Maine Puffins On The Rebound