Machias Seal Island is located in disputed waters between the Gulf of Maine and the Bay of Fundy, about 8.6 nautical miles southeast of Cutler, Maine.  Canada has maintained a permanent presence on the island since 1832, when the lighthouse was first built. Although the U.S. also claims sovereignty over the island, it has never established a physical presence there. Today, the Canadian Coast Guard continues to staff the lighthouse. Each summer, thousands of puffins—alongside razorbills, murres, and other seabirds—return to the island for their breeding season, which lasts from May to August. This is the only time they come to land; the rest of the year, they live entirely at sea.

For the past several years, I’ve hoped—and tried—to get tickets to see the Atlantic Puffins on Machias Seal Island. Every year, I came up short… until this year! Tickets went on sale in the spring, and this time we were ready. For the first time, we were successful. Then came the hardest part: waiting four months for the big day—and hoping the weather would cooperate.We were incredibly lucky. The weather was absolutely beautiful, the boat ride was smooth, and we had an easy landing on the island. It was an amazing experience—not only to see the puffins up close but also to observe a wide variety of other seabirds and even some seals lounging around.

The 2025 season is now over, and I’m already looking forward to next year!