Maine Puffin Population Reaches Record High Amid Conservation Efforts
The puffin population on Eastern Egg Rock, Maine, has reached a record high, with researchers confirming 200 active burrows. This marks a significant milestone in the conservation efforts that began in the 1970s under Project Puffin, now known as the Audubon Seabird Institute. The project aimed to restore puffins to the island after they were hunted to extinction there in the 1880s. The research team, led by wildlife biologist Alison Ballard, has been monitoring the puffins' progress, noting the increase in burrows as a 'massive Easter egg hunt.' The previous record was 188 burrows in 2019. The team also observed a razorbill chick fledging on the island, a first for the area, indicating potential shifts in seabird breeding patterns.