The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is a 4,662-acre site best known for its bird-watching opportunities. It occupies the southern two-thirds of Plum Island and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Home to 800-plus species of plant and animal life, Parker River’s most renowned resident is the Piping Plover, a small sandpiper-like bird that was named a protected species in 1986. When the plover is nesting, the refuge’s beaches are closed and certain areas unavailable to visitors. This period usually ends by late July.

More than 302 different species of birds have been spotted on the refuge over the past 20 years, including varieties of swans, herons, vultures, pheasant, gulls and woodpeckers. With a barrier beach, dunes, wooded groves, salt marsh, and wetland impoundments, a visit during migration is always worthwhile.