583 Third Beach Road
Middletown
Rhode Island
02842
401-846-2577
The Norman Bird Sanctuary is a wildlife refuge & nature preserve, the largest area of open space in Newport County in beautiful Rhode Island. Open to the public daily, the property encompasses 325 acres and 7 miles of hiking trails through diverse habitats, excellent for birding and spotting other wildlife, and with amazing views of the ocean and beyond. Our mission is to preserve & protect our habitats & resources for the benefit of birds & other wildlife, and for people's education & enjoyment.
In 1912, Mabel Norman Cerio came to live on the property that is now the Sanctuary. Upon her death in 1949, Mabel's trust gifted the property to the community in honor of her father. The Norman Bird Sanctuary, under the charge of her will, was to maintain the land “for the propagation, preservation, and protection of birds, and where birds and bird life may be observed, studied, taught, and enjoyed by lovers of nature and by the public generally so interested in a spirit of humanity and mercy.”
Today, NBS is a mature nonprofit that has maintained steady growth throughout its history. Located next to the Welcome Center and gift shop, the Sanctuary's 19th Century Barn Museum features natural history displays and a children's area with interpretive murals and hands-on exhibits. The Sanctuary offers educational programs, camps, meeting spaces and an overnight retreat center at Paradise Farmhouse on campus. NBS also hosts wonderful annual events throughout the year that have become traditions for generations of families in the community.
