Norton Point has reopened to over-sand vehicle traffic after several weeks of closures during peak shorebird rearing season.

Trustees announced partial reopening of Norton Point on July 26. — Trustees of Reservations

The Trustees of Reservations announced Wednesday morning that the first half-mile of oversand vehicle trails had reopened on Chappaquiddick.

Trustees superintendent Chris Kennedy said Wednesday afternoon that the rest of Norton Point, to Wasque, will open for vehicle traffic on Thursday. The remaining shorebirds have fledged or were lost to predation, he said. The rest of Chappy beaches are expected to open in the next few weeks.

Most of the barrier beach from Norton Point to Cape Pogue was closed to oversand vehicles in early July because of the presence of state and federally protected shorebirds. The Trustees said 18 piping plover pairs were present on Chappy beaches, as well as six roseate tern nests, nine black skimmer pairs, and hundreds of least terns with chicks.

Boat landing is prohibited at the elbow of Cape Pogue because tern and plover chicks are present on the shoreline, The Trustees said. Dogs must be leashed.