MATINICUS ROCK (AP) – Bird fanciers can now visit Maine’s largest puffin colony, located 22 miles offshore, by simply clicking on the Internet.

A Web camera has been set up on Matinicus Rock and is transmitting live streaming video of the state’s largest colony of the clown-like puffins.

The camera, which is operated by Maine Audubon, is set up to move every two minutes on a tour of 20 preset locations that show seabird habitat on the island. The tour focuses on several locations where puffins may be seen on their “loafing ledges,” and includes a view of an underground puffin burrow where viewers can see a growing chick and its parents. The site is www.projectpuffin.org.

The best time to view puffins are mornings and early afternoons.

, according to Project Puffin.

Besides puffins, viewers should also be able to observe other seabirds and Matinicus Rock light house. Matinicus Rock is home to more than 230 pairs of razorbills and about 1,000 pairs of Arctic terns.

Robotic cameras have been growing in popularity nationwide as a way to allow people to see wildlife – endangered and otherwise – in their natural habitat.

They’ve been set up to view nesting loons, green turtles in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Steller sea lions, elephant seals and brown bears in remote locations.

Project Puffin has had a Web camera to view puffins and other seabirds on Eastern Egg Rock a few miles off the midcoast of Maine, but this is the first season it has had one on Matinicus Rock.

The camera runs from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will probably operate through at least September.

Project Puffin began in 1973 as an initiative to restore puffins to historic nesting islands in the Gulf of Maine.

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On the Net:

Project Puffin: www.projectpuffin.org