Delaware Bay Shorebirds
The Delaware Bay's shores are a critical stopover area for six species of migrating birds. The late May arrival of these birds coincides with the spawning of horseshoe crabs, producing one of the most dramatic natural phenomena anywhere in the world. Feeding on crab eggs, the birds refuel and continue their journey to Arctic breeding grounds. Unfortunately, there has been a dramatic decline in horeshoe crab numbers since 1991 and a corresponding decline in shorebird numbers.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program has invested considerable resources in studying the birds, including field work in Chile as well as the Arctic. Color-marking these birds has resulted in a growing database of sightings describing their migration routes, and nesting and wintering areas. Your observation will contribute to this important information. Please send your resightings to William.Pitts@dep.state.nj.us.
The links below lead to pages with information about these shorebirds and the work of division biologists.
Delaware Bay Shorebird Information
Delaware Bay Shorebird Banding Information
Delaware Bay Shorebird Migration Information
Delaware Bay Shorebirds Brochure (has directions to viewing areas) (pdf, 425kb)
Red Knot - An Imperiled Migratory Shorebird in New Jersey
The Status of the Red Knot in the Western Hemisphere, May 2007 - US Fish and Wildlife Service
Complete Report (pdf, 16mb)
Report Body without Appendix (6.1mb)
Report Appendix (9.9mb)
Delaware Bay Shorebird Project Field Reports
2007 Delaware Bay Shorebird Migration Blog
2005 Delaware Bay Shorebird Migration Log
Shorebird Project 2002
Shorebird Project 2001
In Search of the Red Knot in Tierra del Fuego, Chile, 2001-1004
In Search of the Red Knot in the Arctic
2003,
2002,
2001,
2000
ADDITIONAL LINKS
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