Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge

Enjoy the rugged beauty of Pond Island.

The lighthouse on Pond Island.

Pond Island is a 10-acre treeless island located about 16 miles northeast of Portland off Popham Beach in Phippsburg.

It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

The refuge is closed to the public through Aug. 31 to protect nesting seabirds. However, it is open for day use the rest of the year.

Access is by personal watercraft and should be attempted only if you are an experienced boater. Maine waters can be hazardous, and weather conditions at the mouth of the Kennebec River change quickly .

The island supports mixed grasses and shrubs that host a variety of nesting seabirds, including roseate and common terms, and eiders.

In the early 1970s, the area was identified as a valuable nesting area for common terns and Leach's storm-petrels.

A tern restoration program is conducted on the island with the National Audubon Society.