BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 13, 2024
Atlantic puffins are rarely seen from shore. Their only nesting colonies in the United States are on five islands along the Maine coast. Puffins stay close to these islands through nesting season, then wander far out to sea, rarely approaching the mainland. Practically the only way to see a puffin is to get on a boat. Eastern Egg Rock is the southernmost colony, midway between Pemaquid Point and Boothbay Harbor. It’s the smallest colony, with the fewest puffins. But it’s visited by three different boats, making short-notice bookings more available. The northernmost puffin nesting island is Machias Seal Island. It lies nine miles off the Maine coast near Cutler, and it’s claimed by both the United States and Canada. One boat from each country visits, and it’s the only island that allows visitors to land. ~ Bob Duchesne