Sandy Point: Getting Back to Sharing the Shore

 

by Beth Sullivan

American Oystercatchers 
Photo credit: Rick Newton

There is so much going on right now. There is so much beauty at this moment in time. Such life and rejuvenation, birth and growth, freedom and the ability to breathe more openly and hopefully.   I am quite sure that this spring seems extra special because of the year we have all been through.   We have holed up, curled in and in many cases, kept our heads down.   It is time now to grow outward and explore and remind ourselves how lucky we all are.

Nature has provided solace and sustenance for so many of us over the last year and a half.   It is time now to look at where we have been and see how we can restore and support some of our natural areas. To give back a bit.   As stewards we have begun getting back onto the preserves and working as teams, to maintain and monitor.  Over the summer we will make the rounds and I will report on what is happening.

Sandy Point: One Island, Two States

The first update is about Sandy Point Island: Avalonia’s gem of a wildlife refuge in Little Narragansett
Bay, between Stonington and Napatree Point in Rhode Island.  The history of the island and Avalonia’s ownership can be found in earlier blogs and on our website.  Its primary purpose is as a nature preserve.  It is acres and miles of shifting sand and beach grasses and shrubs. The island itself has shifted dramatically over the decades, a fact which can be seen easily on a series of aerial maps and Google Earth.   But even with the movements of the land over time, the island has remained a historical nesting and refuge area for a wide variety of very special species.

If you find a tagged horseshoe crab,
take a photo and report it
Photo Credit: Beth Sullivan

The most ancient of these species is the horseshoe crab: Limulus polyphemus.  These relics of the dinosaur era return to the same areas of sand at the edges of the oceans around the world, somehow following some magnetic compass in their own bodies, to come ashore during the full and new moons of May and June at the high tides, to mate and lay their eggs.  For almost a decade, Avalonia volunteers made multiple trips each season, usually at night and by kayak, out to the island to count and tag the horseshoe crabs. This was part of Project Limulus, a study conducted by Sacred Heart University. The tagging part of the project is completed, different parts of the study continue, and the crabs continue to return to the sandy island each late spring into summer.  If you find a tagged horseshoe crab, take a photo of the information on the tag, and report it on the website link below.   

https://www.sacredheart.edu/academics/colleges--schools/college-of-arts--sciences/departments/biology/project-limulus/

 

Piping Plovers
Photo Credit: Rick Newton

The island is also an important nesting site for several threatened or endangered species of birds.  Piping plovers, American oystercatchers and least terns make their homes and raise their young on this strip of sandy island.   All these species make very simple scrape nests on the sand, amid the pebbles and shells on the beach. They are very vulnerable to all kinds of dangers. High storm tides can wash the nests away, there are predators that target the eggs and the young, including the gulls that also nest there, and crows.   Sadly, some of the worst disruption is human caused.    The island is much loved by many people for its beauty, beaches, and wildlife.   But people and wildlife do not always mix well.   Our simple presence near a nest can cause a parent to abandon the nest or eggs.  People can inadvertently step on, or land their boat on, a nest or eggs.    When the chicks hatch, they can run but they cannot fly so they must get to the water’s edge to feed by finding their way through whatever obstacles there may be on the shore. On busy summer weekends, that can be people, blankets, chairs, kids and coolers.  Dogs are not allowed on the island at all, even on leash, because their mere presence terrorizes the birds.

They have a narrow window of time, when they nest, incubate their eggs then have the young wandering around like toddlers; vulnerable to all sorts of dangers and hard to control!

Signage is provided for all visitors
Photo credit: Beth Sullivan

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has provided an amazing partnership with Avalonia to monitor the
wildlife, provide fencing to help remind visitors to avoid nesting sites, create educational signage and offer trained biologists to be on the island to teach visitors about the importance of the habitat.   For permits and passes which are required, please visit https://rhodeislandpermits.recaccess.com/

We are at the Solstice.  The longest days of the most lovely of seasons. We all want to enjoy our new freedom to get back out in nature with our friends. Please remember that wildlife on all our preserves, needs to be protected. At Sandy Point the protection is critical to the survival of 3 species. Please help us, and the wildlife, by observing the guidelines and looking out for and enjoying the other beings that use the island.

 

USFWS biologists monitor the nesting sites
and roped off areas.
Photo credit: Rick Newton

All creatures seem to be drawn to the 
gentle, shifting shoreline of Sandy Point.
Photo credit: Beth Sullivan

When young shorebirds need to run to the
water, they can encounter many obstacles.
Photo credit: Beth Sullivan

 

 

Sandy Point in Summer

By Beth Sullivan

Kids are almost out of school. Finally, the weather has given us a hint of the summer to come. For the wildlife at Sandy Point-the birds and Horseshoe Crabs (and USFWS) the summer season began a while ago. More than a month ago the shorebirds arrived, and already the American Oystercatchers have established nests and some have already hatched young. On a recent trip out, we saw a number of Piping Plovers, Oystercatchers, some Least Terns, and a really cool Black Skimmer cruising the shoreline.

Horseshoe Crabs return

The full moon in May also signaled the real beginning of the Horseshoe Crab migration to the island for nesting; a trek that has gone on for thousands if not millions, of years. Avalonia stewards were thwarted by weather conditions and other circumstances, so our first trip out was in June. On our kayak excursions out to the island, we count and tag the returning crabs. Later we will paddle out to look for the nests, hatching young, and juvenile crabs that take refuge in the calm waters on the north side of the island.

Sandy Point, a truly spectacular gem to be protected and appreciated.

Enjoy the island but please remember that we need to share the beach.

Dogs are not allowed on the island at all. Please leave them home.

As we have reported over the last years, Avalonia Land Conservancy has entered into a very supportive relationship with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to manage the island. It had become impossible to juggle the needs of the wildlife that needs the special habitat to survive, and the wishes of the island-loving public that has enjoyed the island’s sandy shores and inviting waters for generations.

The Service provides wildlife biologists as experienced stewards who will study the protected species, will note where they nest, and provide protection for them. They will also be available to educate the public, answer questions and explain the rules. An informed visitor is far more likely to be compliant and actually help with the effort to preserve and protect the place we all love. The Service will also have the ability to see that the rules are followed.

A major concern is dogs on the island. As much as we all love our beach buddies, dogs are seen as predators, and dogs are forbidden from the entire island, at all times, even on leash. Please observe this regulation.

Sandy Point summer beach passes

All of this effort comes at a cost and, as in the past, there will be a fee for usage of Sandy Point, which will help offset this expense. The USFWS has developed a fee scale that is very fair and is actually less expensive than in past years. Also, they have decided to continue the relationship with the Stonington COMO to assist with the management of the process and procedures to obtain passes and their distribution. You can go directly to the COMO if you choose, or very easily go to the COMO website and link to Summer Beach Passes. A direct link to purchase passes is here. 

The Horseshoe Crabs have returned to nest.

US Fish and Wildlife Service will educate the public and protect the wildlife.

When you are done for the day, please pick up your litter. It can be deadly for birds and other wildlife.

It will be important to keep the pass with you and a personal ID while visiting the island, as stewards will check for them. They will be required from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

It truly is a small price to pay to be able to enjoy the beautiful island beaches and waters, but also know that your purchase actually goes to support the stewardship of the island to protect and preserve it for all who visit or call it home.

We will keep you posted on the seasonal changes out there. In the meantime, get your passes and enjoy the early summer pleasures of Avalonia’s gem: Sandy Point Island.

Photographs by Beth Sullivan.

Sandy Point-Looking ahead to warmer days

By Beth Sullivan

What better way to spend a snowy afternoon, than to think about summer days and Sandy Point?

It doesn’t get much human usage during the winter. The channel dredging project was completed late this fall and considered successful. The sand material deposited up on the island has created additional habitat for the shorebirds who use the island as a nesting refuge. It will be interesting to see how many Least Terns, Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers will be able to nest, and fledge young successfully this next summer.

Flocks of Snow Buntings circle the sandy dunes looking for seeds.

The dredging project restored acres of sand to the island. 

At this time of year, Canada Geese may use the sheltered sides to congregate and feed offshore during lower tides. Winter birds like Snow Buntings and Horned Larks are probably using the bare flats. They seem to think this is comfortably “south”. They love windblown sand! There have been reports of Snowy Owls moving between Napatree Point and Sandy Point, so that special species also finds refuge there during the winter.

Well camouflaged, a Horned Lark, explores the sand.

Snowy Owls also find refuge on Sandy Point.

A thoughtful family donation

Thanks to the Gildersleeve family of Stonington, this island was donated to Avalonia Land Conservancy Inc. (then Mashantucket Land Trust) in 1982. The deed instructs that it to be used forever and primarily as a Nature Preserve. This family knew long ago what a special place it was, and how valuable to species in need of protection.

We also know it is beloved to many in the community as a place for rest and recreation, and that practice continues. It has always been a priority for Avalonia, to find the right balance between human enjoyment and wildlife protection. In the past years, it has become increasingly difficult to protect the special species from overwhelming human usage. Dogs and kites, and camps and parties are all seen as intrusive and threatening to the vulnerable birds. Horseshoe crabs also find refuge there for their nesting ritual that has gone on for thousands, if not millions of years and those areas are often disturbed.

The new sand makes a great base for this summer's nesters.

Horseshoe Crabs have been visiting Sandy Point for millions of years.

Avalonia and the Stonington COMO have teamed up for years to help monitor the usage and provide stewardship and oversight, but it has never been enough- not enough time and not enough money to hire knowledgeable stewards, and no ability to enforce the rules. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has helped us for the last several years, but also without the ability to provide enforcement. The wild life has suffered.

Avalonia-USFWS Agreement

There is good news on the horizon. Avalonia has been working with the USFWS to enter into an agreement to properly protect the island and its inhabitants. Sandy Point has been added into the refuge boundary of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. While the major portion of the McKinney Refuge is much farther west along the CT shore, we are lucky to have a USFWS branch close by in Rhode Island, and this group will oversee the Sandy Point as part of a new lease agreement. While Avalonia retains full ownership of the island, as desired by the donors, it will be properly managed as a Nature Preserve, with biologists to observe, survey and assess the wildlife. Recreational usage will still be encouraged. The USFWS stewards will also provide visitor services such as informational and interpretive signage and environmental education. By doing this, they can engage the public’s cooperation in their efforts. They will also have the ability to enforce the rules.

People and wildlife will find a balance. 

A permit will still be required, as in years past. The effort to provide staff and transportation and materials to the island is costly. But the pass will be less expensive. The USFWS has just issued a press release to outline the permit process and information will be available through the COMO as before. More information will be coming soon.

We can all work together to  protect the wildlife on Sandy Point.

So on these cold winter days, we can think ahead to the summer, be excited to get out to Sandy Point for some passive R&R, and enjoyment of the wildlife we are now better able to protect.

Photographs by Beth Sullivan, Rick Newton and USFWS.