South Brother Island

Island Small East River island near the Bronx, New York

A small island in New York State harbour waters that serves as a restricted bird sanctuary and historic site best viewed from boat tours rather than public landing.

South Brother Island is a small, uninhabited island in New York State located in the waters off the Bronx. It is one of the pair known as the Brother Islands in the East River/Long Island Sound area.

The island is notable for bird habitat and coastal vegetation rather than visitor facilities; it is visited mainly by boaters and wildlife observers from the mainland. There are no public amenities and landing is limited to protect ecological values.

The island has remained without permanent habitation in modern times and has been recognized for its ecological role within the harbor area. It is managed to limit disturbance to nesting birds and natural shoreline processes.

South Brother Island lies close to the Bronx coastline in New York State, near Throggs Neck and Pelham Bay. The island is accessible only by private boat and lies within the greater New York metropolitan waterway system.

Restricted access: Access is restricted and the island is managed as a wildlife habitat; public landings are generally discouraged to protect bird colonies.

How to Get to South Brother Island #

South Brother Island cannot be visited without an official permit; landing is prohibited to protect nesting birds and fragile ruins. The island is best viewed from the shore at Orchard Beach or City Island, or from private boats that remain offshore. The nearest public transit to good view-points is the Q?? (local buses) to City Island Road or a subway/taxi combination into the Bronx; most visitors come by car or organized boat tour that remains outside the no-landing zone.

Tips for Visiting South Brother Island #

Viewing is best from the shorelines of City Island or Orchard Beach at low tide - bring binoculars for the bird colonies.
Do not attempt to land - the island is a protected bird sanctuary and New York City Parks requires permits for official research visits.
If interested in the islands' medical history, pair a view of South Brother with a boat-approach (outside landing) to North Brother Island to see the derelict hospital where Mary Mallon (Typhoid Mary) spent her final years (North Brother).