Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge

Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1972 primarily to provide feeding, resting and nesting habitat for migratory birds. It occupies the northern 22 acres of 52-acre Thacher Island located approximately one mile off the coast of Rockport, Massachusetts. The refuge and adjacent Town of Rockport property consists of cobble beach, rocky outcrop, grass, and shrub/thicket habitats. It currently supports both herring and great black-backed gulls as nesting species and serves as a resting and refueling stopover site for songbirds and other migrants. Among other wildlife, off-shore use occurs by seals, waterfowl, loons, grebes, cormorants and alcids.

The refuge is located approximately 30 miles north of Boston. Access to the refuge is by boat only. A boat ramp is available on the west side of the island on Town of Rockport property. During the summer months the Thacher Island Association operates a boat to the island out of Rockport.