Audubon Seabird Institute

The National Audubon Society launched Project Puffin in 1973 to learn how they might restore puffins to historic nesting islands in the Gulf of Maine. It was almost a decade before they succeeded in their goal of getting puffins to return to historically occupied colonies in the Gulf of Maine. Through active restoration on seven seabird colonies in the Gulf of Maine, and monitoring those populations, researchers listen to and amplify what seabirds tell them about climate change, forage fish management, proposed offshore wind development, and other ocean conservation challenges. Now known as the “Audubon Seabird Institute”, conservation work also continues by sharing restoration methods that benefit rare and endangered seabirds worldwide. The overall mission of the Institute is to advance the science of seabird conservation while encouraging protection and appreciation of seabird habitats worldwide.