At 8.5 miles in length, Plum Island is reached from Newbury and Newburyport by way of the Plum Island "Turnpike", a picturesque, two lane road traversing marsh lands and water ways.

Stretching from Newburyport at the mouth of the Merrimack River as far south as Rowley and Ipswich, this wonderful barrier island is known for its spectacular beaches, dunes, and ever-changing tidal marshes.

Formerly a summer colony, the northern end of the Island is now primarily a year-round community with an eclectic assortment of houses ranging from simple cottages to sophisticated contemporary homes.

It is, however, as a bird-watchers paradise that Plum Island has gained its fame, both nationally and internationally. Mass Audubon has recently purchased 3 acres of land along the Plum Island Turnpike to develop as an elaborate visitors center and gateway to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and the Sandy Point State Reservation at the southern-most tip of the Island.

Encompassing 4,662 acres, The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island is one of the few natural barrier, beach-dune, fresh and salt marsh complexes left on the northeast coast. Established as a management area for migrating waterfowl, it is part of the National Atlantic Flyway and a prime spot for observing birds of all kinds.

The refuge offers protection to endangered or threatened species and their associated habitats. It is also an area where wildlife enthusiasts can find recreation and learn about the environment.

Waterfowl which are commonly viewed here include mallards, gadwalls and black duck. Shore birds, like egrets and heron, can be found nesting in the spring and early summer.

Sometimes birds rarely seen in the United States come to the island. The refuge draws people from all over the country because of the unusual varieties which land here. Over 300 species of birds have been spotted in the refuge at various times of the year.