Maine's Puffin Population Rebounds Despite Climate Change

Maine's puffin colonies have made a remarkable recovery in recent years, despite the challenges posed by climate change.

After a catastrophic year in 2021, the clownish seabirds have had their second consecutive rebound year for fledging chicks. This is thanks to the abundance of sand lance fish, which has remained in the area this year, allowing the puffins to thrive.

The encouraging news comes as the Audubon Society celebrates its 50th anniversary of tending to Maine's puffin colonies, which it restored from just a few dozen pairs to as many as 3,000 birds.

The puffins, also known as "clowns of the sea" or "sea parrots," nest in burrows and feed their chicks small fish such as herring. The fish shortage has been tied to warming ocean temperatures, particularly in the Gulf of Maine, which is warming faster than most of the world's oceans.

Even with the recent success, the challenges faced by seabirds are still a concern for conservationists. Seabirds' reproductive failures and low breeding productivity years are becoming chronic due to climate change, which could lead to fewer young birds in the population that are able to breed.

Despite this, the recovery of Maine's puffin colonies is a testament to the resilience of nature and the efforts of conservationists to protect these beautiful creatures.