Beach Closes April 1st!
About Us
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 540 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This network of more than 150 million acres of lands and waters is protected and managed specifically for wildlife--- there is no other system like it in the world.
Parker River was established in 1942 to provide feeding, resting and nesting habitat for migratory birds. Located along the Atlantic flyway, the refuge is a vital stopover habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds. In addition to providing habitat for birds, the refuge is also home to a variety of mammal, insect, fish, reptile, and amphibian species.
Today the mission of the refuge has been expanded to include the protection of threatened and endangered species, and include wildlife dependent recreation where appropriate.
The refuge encompasses the southern two-thirds of Plum Island, a barrier island off the northeastern coast of Massachusetts, and is located in the City of Newburyport as well as the Towns of Newbury, Rowley, and Ipswich. A state-of-the-art refuge visitor center offering educational and entertaining exhibits is open daily from 11am-4pm and is located at 6 Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport.
For more information on the refuge, please download our brochure here.
