Here's the most recent info on Bird Island. Within the past couple years the island was sold to the state of NC. While Sunset Beach has local ordinances against topless, thongs, & nudity, Bird Island is governed by state law. Thus it's legal to sunbathe topless & in thongs on Bird Island. However, it is illegal to be totally nude there.

Even though the area isn't enforced by state patrol, there are the rather rude folks from the Bird Island Preservation Society taking turns patrolling. I had one old-timer from the Society start yelling at me that it's not a nude beach then I turned over and showed him I was wearing a thong and he just said "OK, you're covered up". While the B.I.P.S. has no legal authority they are a pain in the butt. I don't mind them informing those who are nude that such an activity is illegal, but when they start harassing women who are topless and/or in thongs then next time I won't be so courteous back to them.