Stonington - While a larger portion of Sandy Point than normal is currently roped off to protect nesting shorebirds, a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service official said this week that situation is temporary.

Charlie Vandemoer, the refuge manager for the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Charlestown, R.I., said that once the piping plovers, American oystercatchers and least terns choose nesting sites, Fish & Wildlife staff will reduce the number of areas that are closed to the public through the end of the summer.

"Once they set up their nests, we'll take the ropes down" from areas where the birds are not nesting, he said.

That should occur over the next three weeks or so and coincide with the start of Memorial Day weekend, which is when most boaters begin making their summer visits to the popular island.

In 2010, the island's owner, the Avalonia Land Conservancy, announced that it had asked the Fish & Wildlife Service to manage the mile-long island for the next five years. The goal is to balance human impact on the island with protection of shore birds. Some people had been allowing their dogs to run loose on the island, scaring the birds, or walking in areas where birds were nesting.

Rules have been implemented banning kite-flying, fireworks, open fires, camping, dogs, pets, nudity, possession of alcohol by minors and adults impaired by alcohol. Permitted activities included wildlife observation, swimming, sunbathing, walking, fishing, photography and cooking with gas or charcoal grills, as long as debris is removed.

The Fish & Wildlife Service has said roping off portions of the island has helped restore the number of nesting birds on the island.

j.wojtas@theday.com