No one lives on Bird Island but there is a mailbox erected on this little strip of sand. This uninhabited island rests between Sunset Beach and the Carolinas' state line. Twenty-five years ago, when my children were little, my relatives and friends would all pack up picnic baskets full of food and off we would go to Bird Island. It is a beautiful spot with the intracoastal waterway on one side and the pounding ocean on the other side. Except for a few locals (had to have a boat), very few people knew about this lovely little island that sloped gently into the waterway. Kids would play all day while the adults relaxed in the sun. Until several years ago, walkers could cross from the Southern end of Sunset Beach and walk across during low tide...but you really had to watch the tides so you didn't get caught. The Sand Dollars were so thick they would bump against your legs and you tried not to step on them. Gradually as Ocean Isle Beach eroded on one end and storms occurred the inlet began to fill in so now one can walk to Bird Island from Sunset Beach.
In the 1990s, the family who owned this privately held island decided to build a bridge across from the mainland and subdivide the property into 15 lots and have a fishing pier. The state refused the permits; it was quite a battle and in 2002, NC Division of Coastal Management bought the property for $4.2 million, and it became part of the NC Coastal Reserve. This two mile stretch of sand is the home of many, many birds, thus the name. Locals love this pristine barrier island and police it regularly. Frank Nesmith is a permanent resident who has spent many years working on this project. He conducts walking tours and works to educate the public as to its importance. He is the person who sunk the Kindred Spirits mailbox on the island...but that is another story. Bird Island Preservation Society has spent years trying to preserve this property for all to enjoy. The only regret I have is overuse. Now, many people know about the island and they don't need a boat to reach it.
As much as I love the island, I have misgivings about denying an owner, who owned the property when the beaches were not utilized like they are today, the right to do as they chose...even if it meant posting No Trespassing signs. Of course, they are four million dollars richer but sometimes the money doesn't matter. I hadn't really thought about the issue until the Sun News published an article about it, and they brought it to everyones' attention, again.
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