Yesterday, live video began streaming of Atlantic puffins nesting on a remote island in Maine. The two high-definition cameras stream live around the clock from Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge to anyone with an internat connection. The island, which is located about 20 miles off the coast of Maine, is home to the largest puffin colony in the United States.
One camera is set up to to show the puffins on one of the island’s rocky ledges. The other is underground, inside one of the puffin’s borrows, showing them in their natural “home” environment.
“About a third of all seabird species in the world are threatened with extinction…” Steve Kress, director of Audobon’s seabird restoration program, said in a press release. “It’s the most troubled group of birds in the world. And the puffin is the bird among seabirds that people can relate to… We’re excited to give people a window into this wonderful world of seabirds, and we hope to inspire viewers everywhere to take actions that improve the planet for birds and people.”
“The Puffin Cams have a mesmerizing effect that we believe will help people escape the stresses of everyday life and provide a positive benefit that will carry over when they return to their daily obligations.”
Go to explore.org/birds to see the puffins live.
Although I wish I could embed the video here, your best bet is to follow the link above to get your puffin on. You might think that there is no way the puffins are active all the time, but the camera has the ability to pan and zoom to capture the clowns of the bird kingdom. As I’m writing this, I’m watching a group of puffins stretching their feathers, grooming eachother, and just hanging out.