Landowners protect the beach and the birds of Sandy Point Island
Horseshoe crab on Sandy Point Island.
Credit: John Ackley
Sandy Point Island provides an important habitat for wildlife, especially migratory birds.
Credit: USFWS
Binti Ackley, like many of her fellow beachgoers and landowners, beams with pride when she talks about protecting the well-loved Sandy Point Island.
"Sandy Point Island is my backyard, just a short paddle offshore," Ackley says. "During the 36 years I have lived here, I have explored and observed the ever-changing island and its residents, including the threatened piping plover."
Locals consider this barrier island, nestled between Rhode Island and Connecticut in Little Narragansett Bay, to be a prime boating destination and picnic spot. But it's also a nesting hotspot that's favored by some of our fine feathered friends—shorebirds including American oystercatchers, threatened piping plovers, and endangered roseate and least terns.
These birds needed help protecting their nests and chicks, so in 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Avalonia Land Conservancy, and residents teamed up to find a balance between recreational use and wildlife conservation.
"Changing public consciousness is hard, but people already love this place," says Anne Roberts-Pierson, past president of Avalonia, which has owned the island since 1982. "We're just asking them to tweak their behavior…They see their beach usage has not been impinged, and we're getting good bird reproduction."
The solution mingled site protection, through roping off nesting grounds and adding nesting boxes, with public education and support, through signs, meetings and information distribution. The result has been three successful nesting seasons and an enjoyable summer for both the beachgoers and the birds.
Voices from Sandy Point Island
Binti Ackley, Stonington Boro resident
As a concerned observer and member of Avalonia Land Conservancy, I feel a great sense of affection and desire to protect Sandy Point Island's fragile birds, their nests and young.
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Human activities and pets on the island were impacting the birds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has increasingly helped us manage the wildlife on this island during the last three years, and I have been privileged to work with and learn from them—from tagging horseshoe crabs, observing camouflaged plover chicks and educating visitors to setting up exclosures for protection, roping off nesting areas and posting information signs.
This has allowed me, as a volunteer steward, to encourage a shared sense of ownership and responsibility in visitors to the island. Visitors of all ages can appreciate the information we share.
Each year is different; each day is different on Sandy Point. Observing and protecting the piping plovers is a special part of the whole effort to preserve the island in my backyard.
Anne Nalwalk, former president of Avalonia Land Conservancy
From the beginning, Avalonia has recognized Sandy Point as a treasure, a property unlike any others it owned – a sandy island enough removed from the shore to provide isolation and uniqueness while still close to home.
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In 1982, the three heirs of Alfred Gildersleeve gave Sandy Point to Avalonia Land Conservancy to be used as a nature preserve that could also be used for recreation that did not "substantially adversely affect the condition of the [island] as a nature preserve."
Avalonia began by trying to preserve the mass of the island from winter storms, but efforts have proven that Sandy Point will always be the wandering island that past charts have shown. At all times, the use by the public has been a concern and establishing rules of conduct has become important.
When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began to monitor the use of the island by various shorebirds, the true value of Sandy Point as a nature preserve became most apparent. Avalonia has been amazed to learn the importance of Sandy Point to shorebirds that use it for nesting, resting and staging.
With the Service's expertise, nesting area protection, and monitoring, along with the assistance of a volunteer corps of observers, the value of this natural resource is being quantified and established. This new knowledge is helpful in explaining to the public why certain limitations in use and practices are vitally important to respect. We are all keepers of a great resource!
Sandy Point also provides a primary breeding ground for horseshoe crabs, whose eggs are an important food source for various shorebirds, especially the red knot.
Local nature classes, Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, Project Oceanology, and the University of Rhode Island use Sandy Point for education purposes.
Avalonia is especially honored to be the protector of such a rich natural resource and to be so ably assisted by the Service and the corps of volunteers who help us protect it by educating those who frequent the island.
Ryan Kleinert, biological science technician with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Sandy Point is a remarkable island that has provided critical habitat for the recovery of many vulnerable birds, including threatened piping plovers, American oystercatchers, least terns and endangered roseate terns. It has been my pleasure to dedicate enthusiasm, passion and knowledge of conservation towards the recovery of these species.
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An essential component to the conservation of piping plovers on Sandy Point has involved public outreach and educating the many beachgoers about the wildlife that they share the island with. Much of the public has helped us foster an outstanding environment for the conservation of piping plovers.
Working alongside partners and colleagues who are as passionate as I am about the recovery of plovers has shaped this valuable and wonderful experience. I am honored and rewarded every day that I am out in the field working for wildlife.
The dedication and cooperation of many individuals, including the members and volunteers of the Avalonia land trust and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff, have resulted in yet another successful season.
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