Determined Scientists Created Only Puffin Colony In The Us, And Continue To Protect It Decades Later

Determined Scientists Created Only Puffin Colony In The Us, And Continue To Protect It Decades Later

Determined Scientists Created Only Puffin Colony In The Us, And Continue To Protect It Decades Later Eastern Egg Rock Island – credit CC0 Lisapaulinet For 50 years, the state of Maine has drawn worldwide attention for its efforts to restore a puffin colony, an effort that has brought controversy, hope, and a cottage industry you have to see to believe. Featured recently on the PBS News Hour, it’s a story that begins back in 1973 when a young ornithologist named Stephen Kress thought he could try to restore the puffin populations of the US Mid-Atlantic after overhunting eliminated them locally in the 1800s. Stephen Kress holding a puffin chick – credit, VOA, public domain “People caused them to leave,” the career puffin-ologist said. “Maybe people can help bring them back. That was the notion. I had no idea that that notion was going to be my life’s work.” Indeed the young scientist suffered the slings and arrows for his trouble, but his years of work were a success. Back then, Kress believed…