Tomkins Island is a protected seabird sanctuary, at the mouth of the Savannah River, at the border between South Carolina and Georgia. Closed year-round, the island serves as part of a broader network of coastal habitats critical to nesting and migratory bird populations.

Although smaller and less publicly known than some of the region’s other sanctuaries, Tomkins Island plays an important ecological role within the Lowcountry’s interconnected estuarine system. The island’s restricted access and protected status help preserve habitat for sensitive seabirds and shorebirds vulnerable to human disturbance and coastal habitat loss.

Tomkins Island stands out, in particular, as a powerful example of ecological restoration and “rewilding” through intentional island creation and habitat management. Constructed in 2005 as part of mitigation efforts tied to the continued dredging of Savannah Harbor, the island demonstrates how engineered landscapes can be transformed into thriving sanctuaries for seabirds and shorebirds. Since becoming a Seabird Sanctuary in 2015, Tomkins Island has evolved into critical nesting habitat, carefully maintained through a cooperative partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Savannah District and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Ongoing restoration efforts, including rebuilding sand and rock structures, controlling vegetation, and monitoring bird populations, help sustain the dynamic coastal conditions many colonial nesting species require to survive.