Tinker’s Island is two small islands connected by a strip of land. It is named after the tinker mackerel that can be found (and caught) close to its shores.

Tinker’s Island, in summer, is covered with wild roses, raspberries, pheasants, and birds. It has fresh-water springs, as do all of the islands that have been or still are inhabited. It is very isolated, accessible only by private boat, and protected by the Tinker’s Island Association, composed of regular summer residents whose families have come to the island for generations.

There are several different birding boat tours, whale watches, and pelagic trips that leave from Massachuestts ports. For pelagic trips, familiarize yourself with eBird's pelagic protocol and use the appropriate personal locations or eBird hotspots

The eBird pelagic protocol applies to checklists that are made farther than two miles offshore on oceans, seas, or large lakes. Choose the Pelagic Protocol option from the ‘Other’ menu of Observation Types. Please note that we still have much to learn about seabird distribution, so we encourage you to add photos and notes to document your sightings on your checklists! 

If you’re moving: Count for up to 60 minutes on each checklist; stopping at the 1-hour mark. Record the distance traveled (ideally with eBird Mobile Tracks), adjust the distance estimate for backtracking as you would a traveling checklist, and choose a location on the map for where you started that checklist period. Repeat this process throughout the trip until you return to within two miles of shore.

If you’re anchored: Keep a checklist for as long as you’re anchored, and then follow the above instructions once you start to move again.