The Puffin Brigade

The Tufted Puffin, with its colorful parrot-like beak and slightly melancholy expression, once numbered in the tens of thousands along the Pacific coast from California to British Columbia. Today, only a fraction--2,000--remain. This dramatic population crash in the Pacific Northwest has prompted a new partnership between nonprofits, government agencies, and academics to better understand and address the causes of the decline, which are believed to be driven by climate change and its impacts on the marine environment. The coalition is working to develop a comprehensive strategy to restore Tufted Puffin populations from California to Canada, including efforts to improve nesting habitat and boost populations through techniques like decoy deployment. The data gathered through this collaborative effort will provide insights into the changing ocean and help guide conservation efforts. Read more about the plight of these iconic seabirds in my feature article, written by Cheryl Katz, in the Winter 2025 issue of Audubon Magazine.