Bird Island is a tiny barrier island that is the southernmost of North Carolina's chain of barrier islands. The very southern tip of the island—a stretch of about 1,000 feet—actually lies in South Carolina. From the end of the island you can see high-rise condos in Myrtle Beach in the distance. Nudity is common on Bird Island near (but not at) its southwestern tip. However, nude sunbathing is practiced with discretion, both because nudity is illegal and because locals in this conservative area are not thrilled with the idea of naked bodies on the beach.

The nude area begins a little past the Kindred Spirits mailbox (pinpointed; described under the green hiker placemark) and extends toward the tip of the island, where there is a long rock jetty at Little River inlet. Nudity should generally be avoided near the jetty because of boat traffic at the inlet and because textile boaters and jet skiers often dock at the very tip of the island.

State law requires only genital coverage, and Bird Island is outside any local jurisdiction which requires coverage of the buttocks and breasts. Thongs and female breast exposure is perfectly legal. Would-be nudists often bring a minimal covering just in case the day's conditions do not favor total nudity. However, full nudity is common, with discretion. The accepted protocol seems to be to cover up when newcomers pass through until determining whether or not they are like minded. Most casual strollers go only as far as the Kindred Spirits mailbox, and few go that far. Rangers patrol the beach about twice a day, but they ride through on ATV's. Suit up in their presence. Furthermore, apparently some members of the Bird Island Preservation Society make it a point to patrol the beach on occasion and yell at nudists. However, they have no legal authority (but could call the cops).

The crowd is small, and, generally speaking, anyone present in the area wearing next to nothing will be okay if you wear nothing.

Incidentally, looking at aerial views, you may wonder why Bird Island is spoken of as its own island, distinct from Sunset Beach. At one time, one-mile-long Bird Island and 3-mile-long Sunset Beach island were separated by a shallow inlet called Mad Inlet. At some point in the recent past the inlet became filled in (by nature, not by man), and now Bird Island and Sunset Beach are one continuous land mass, a little over 4 miles in length. While it is now possible to walk to Bird Island without wading, Bird Island remains uninhabited and undeveloped.

GPS: 33.8531, -78.5391

city, county, state, country  Sunset Beach, Brunswick, North Carolina, U.S.A.

classification  4 (potentially risky)

There are 6 placemarks related to this site.