An Atlantic puffin checks its surrounding before ducking under the rocks to feed its chicks in a burrow on Eastern Egg Rock, a small island off the coast of Maine. The Audubon Society, which continues to run its Puffin Project, reports that Maine puffins experienced a dramatic increase in nesting success in 2014 following two years of food shortage for rearing chicks.

An Atlantic puffin comes in for a landing on Eastern Egg Rock. Data and anecdotes gathered from residents watching the bird on web cameras have helped the Audubon Society answer questions about puffin feeding behavior and have aided conservation efforts.

Atlantic puffins congregate near their burrows on Eastern Egg Rock, a small island off the coast of Maine. In 2014, there were about 1,000 pairs of the seabirds, known for their multicolored beaks and clownish appearance, in Maine.

A puffin prepares to land with a bill full of fish on Eastern Egg Rock off the Maine coast. In 2012 and 2013 many young puffins died from starvation because of a shortage of herring.

The burrow location of an Atlantic puffin is marked by a number and a weed-up lobster buoy on Eastern Egg Rock. Wildlife biologists who spent time in blinds used the markings to keep track of puffin feedings.

An Atlantic puffin races across the water as it takes to the air to avoid the approach of a boat off the coast of Machias Seal Island. Young puffins usually return to breed on the same island where they hatched.

Three puffins in the ocean just off the shore of Eastern Egg Rock, home of a colony of nesting Maine puffins. The National Audubon Society started Project Puffin in 1973 in an effort to restore puffins to historic nesting islands in the Gulf of Maine.

Puffins share a rock on Machias Seal Island located 21 nautical miles from Jonesport. According to Audubon, transplanted puffins began returning to Eastern Egg Rock in June of 1977.

A puffin walks next to a decoy of a razor-billed auk on Eastern Egg Rock off the Maine coast. Decoys help attract nesting birds. Puffin decoys are used in the Puffin Project, a successful recolonization effort started 40 years ago.