Project Puffin Visitor Center, located at 311 Main Street in downtown Rockland, opened its doors officially on July 1, 2006. The long anticipated center introduces people of all ages to the amazing lives of puffins and other Maine seabirds. The Center celebrates the success of Project Puffin in bringing puffins and other rare Maine seabirds back to historic nesting islands. Here the public can view puffins and other seabirds in real time through a remarkable video system that delivers live video to the Center. Visitors can also learn about the success and challenges faced by Audubon and its conservation partners to restore and protect the seabirds on Maine islands and beaches.

“Seabirds are ideal symbols for ocean conservation,” said Dr. Stephen Kress, who initiated Audubon’s Project Puffin in 1973 and remains its director. “Because they live in a variety of habitats—including oceans, islands, estuaries and beaches—they demonstrate how all coastal life is connected. Long-term conservation success hinges on public understanding and community support.”

Project Puffin Visitor Center is located at 311 Main Street between Rockland’s newly renovated Strand Theater and the new Maine Lighthouse Museum.

Packed with interactive exhibits for people of all ages, Project Puffin Visitor Center features:

“Among the many reasons we’re excited about the new visitor center is its location in Rockland,” said Kevin Carley, Maine Audubon executive director. “Now those who live in midcoast Maine and the thousands of people who visit the region every year will have a unique and convenient way to learn firsthand about Audubon’s seabird restoration projects and our work for wildlife conservation throughout the state. It’s a great way to connect people with nature in Maine.”

In addition to support from Audubon, local businesses and private donors, the visitor center has received a $12,000 grant from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, which generates funding through sales of an instant lottery ticket to make grants to Maine conservation projects. The new Center also was recognized this spring as the Conservation Project of the Year and received a $10,000 grant from the American Birding Association.

State and local organizations and agencies advising the Project Puffin Visitor Center include: the Farnsworth Art Museum, Friends of Maine Seabird Islands, Island Institute, Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Rockland-Thomaston Chamber of Commerce.

Additional Audubon properties and centers open to visitors in Maine include: Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth, Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden, Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center in Scarborough, Borestone Mountain Audubon Sanctuary south of Greenville, Todd Audubon Sanctuary in Bremen, and six additional wildlife sanctuaries with walking trails.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT PUFFIN and to see online images taken by the camera at Seal Island, please visit http://www.projectpuffin.org.

MAINE AUDUBON works to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation and action. To learn more, please visit www.maineaudubon.org. To learn about National Audubon Society programs, visit www.audubon.org.