It Makes No Never Mind

by James Nalley

By the time of this publication, Mainchicks, and overfishing of herring and other ers will have hopefully survived the small fish species, which puffins rely on for mud season and are looking forward sustenance. to the warmer summer months. Interesting- For those interested in taking a peek at ly, late May is when boat tours begin offer- these rare creatures in their natural habitat, ing passengers a rare glimpse of Atlantic there is the seven-acre Eastern Egg Rock, puffins, which come ashore to breed and which is located approximately six miles return to the sea in late August. In general, from New Harbor. In fact, this island is the puffins can be found across the colder re- world’s first re-established seabird colony, gions of the North Atlantic, including New- which is owned by the state and managed foundland and Iceland, with Maine at the by Project Puffin. According to Maine southern end of their breeding range. Birding Trail, “This is one of the most-vis

In general, Maine’s puffins have had a ited puffin islands, due to its southern locadifficult history. According to Maine Bird- tion and nearness to shore…The island is ing Trail, they were nearly “eliminated, less exposed to challenging seas and this since colorful birds were prized for their can be a good choice for those prone to seafeathers and their eggs were gathered for sickness.” the dinner table.” However, over the past As a bonus, the following two tour 40 years, the National Audubon Society’s boats are the only ones with educators from (NAS) Seabird Restoration Program, also Project Puffin who serve as narrators with known as “Project Puffin,” pioneered by first-hand experience in restoring puffin Dr. Steven Kress, has restored breeding populations: Hardy Boat Cruises (www. Atlantic puffins to islands off the coast of hardyboat.com/puffin-watch) and Cap’n Maine. As stated by the NAS, the program’s Fish (www.mainewhales.com). More speinnovative approach “uses decoys, mirrors, cifically, Hardy Boat Cruises offers puffin and recordings to attract birds to suitable cruises from May 16 to late August, with nesting sites.” Despite the program’s suc- daily departures. In addition, a portion of cess, the birds are still threatened by, for each ticket sold is donated to Project Pufexample, gulls, which often prey on puffin fin to help continue its important work. To

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date, Hardy Boat Cruises has contributed more than $125,000 directly to the project. As for Cap’n Fish, they offer the Audubon Puffin and Scenic Cruise as well as the Whale/Puffin Combo Cruise. They also state that, not only is the cruise narrated by members of Project Puffin, but it also offers glimpses of many islands, three lighthouses, and an occasional whale.

Well, on this note, let me close with the following jest: Late one night, a burglar broke into a house and tiptoed through the living room. But he suddenly froze in his tracks when he heard a voice say, “Jesus is watching you.” After silence returned to the house, the burglar crept forward again. “Jesus is watching you,” said the voice again. The frightened burglar looked around. In a dark corner, there was a bird cage with a parrot. He asked the parrot, “Was that you who said Jesus is watching me?” “Yes,” said the parrot. The burglar sighed in relief and asked the parrot, “What is your name?” “Clarence” replied the bird. “Well that’s a dumb name for a parrot,” sneered the burglar. “What idiot named you Clarence?” The parrot said, “The same idiot who named that large rottweiler behind you Jesus.”

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