Now we'll look at a five-decade-long project to protect puffins.

Atlantic puffins still face a precarious foothold.

That's due in part to a loss of habitat and to troubles tied to warming ocean waters and climate change.

But one long-standing effort off the coast of Maine continues to provide a crucial nesting habitat for these seabirds and a place for them to thrive.

Science correspondent Miles O'Brien traveled to the only colony of Atlantic puffins in the

U.S., part of our tipping point series on climate change.

We can show off.

Okay.

It was billed as a three-hour tour.

Really?

Okay.

So, Gilligan, Skipper, Professor? No, you're a professor, professor.

That's Don Lyons, head of the Audubon Seabird Institute.

Fortunately, on this day, the weather didn't start getting rough. The tiny ship wasn't tossed.

It isn't always like this.

I imagine.

I think we locked out, right?

We were joined by Steve Kress, a living legend in the world of seabirds.

His claim to fame?

The destination off our bow.

Eastern Egg Rock, six miles southeast of New Harbor, Maine.

It's the summer nesting perch for a thriving, curated colony of Atlantic puffins in all their colorful, charismatic, quirky glory.

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