The Maine island mail boat, a unique and captivating experience, offers a rare opportunity to witness the majestic Atlantic puffins up close. While I initially believed that only one boat service in Maine provided puffin tours, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Boat Coast Charter Co. is the authorized operator for Machias Seal Island, and several other charters offer similar experiences. I embarked on one such journey with Captain Mike Moffett of Isle au Haut Boat Services, an operator with a year-round passenger, mail, and freight service between Stonington and Isle au Haut. The tour, aboard the Otter, a Wesmac Super 46 vessel, was an unforgettable adventure.
The journey began in Stonington, where the boat passed through a picturesque landscape adorned with brightly colored buoys marking the lobster pots below. As we sailed towards Isle au Haut, we encountered a quaint general store accessible by boat and picked up another eager passenger. The island's charm was further enhanced by the presence of the Robinson Point Light, a historic lighthouse built in 1907 and still operational today.
After a one-and-a-half-hour sail, we reached Seal Island, a 65-acre National Wildlife Refuge, 21 miles off the coast of Rockland. This island is renowned for being the largest puffin colony in Maine and the only place in the United States where wild Atlantic puffins can be found. My excitement was palpable, akin to witnessing Mount Rushmore in person after years of seeing it in photos and documentaries. The puffins' resilience is remarkable, having survived a historical population crash and are now experiencing a recovery.
According to the Audubon Seabird Institute, the puffin population is thriving, with 672 active burrows counted during their survey, a significant increase from the previous census. The total number of known burrows surpassed 1,000 for the first time, indicating a successful reintroduction effort by Audubon's Project Puffin in 1992. The island's history of naval bombing and target range use has resulted in unexploded ordnance, making it off-limits to visitors, but it didn't deter us from observing the puffins in flight, along the rocks, and near the shoreline.
The diversity of seabirds was impressive, with black guillemots, terns, razorbills, and common murres. Harbor seals were spotted near Isle au Haut, while Seal Island hosted gray seals. This experience reminded me of the beauty and diversity of Maine, where one can seamlessly transition from ocean to forest, observing island communities and wildlife.
If you find yourself near Stonington during the summer, I highly recommend joining the Otter for a puffin tour. It's an opportunity to witness the Atlantic puffins' charm and resilience, and to appreciate the natural wonders of Maine. This unique boat service provides an unforgettable experience, allowing you to explore the island's beauty and the puffins' captivating behavior.
