About Kettle Island

→ Landing on the island is prohibited ←

White-faced ibis © Craig Gibson

Kettle Island is an uninhabited rocky island located off the coast of Manchester-by-the Sea. Much of the island is vegetated with a dense cover of low trees, shrubs, thorns, and copious amounts of poison ivy.

You can view wildlife from small boats and kayaks, but landing on the island is prohibited so as not to disturb this important colony of nesting birds.

Acres

17

Trail Mileage

None: The island has no trails or boat landing areas

Sanctuary Highlights

• Part of the Essex County Coastal Bird Islands Important Bird Area, the island hosts a large colony of nesting colonial waterbirds in spring and summer, including snowy egret, great egret, glossy ibis, little blue heron, and black-crowned night heron.
• Programs offered by Ipwsich River Wildlife Sanctuary and Joppa Flats Education Center in the summer to view and learn about the birds of Kettle Island and to witness their amazing evening flights back to the colony from the mainland.

Property Regulations

• Do not land on the island or walk on the island. View wildlife from boat or kayak with care; there are numerous rocks in the shallow water near the island.
• Avoid any activities while viewing from afar that might disturb nesting birds during spring and summer  
• Refrain from launching, operating, or retrieving drones or other remote-controlled aerial vehicles