Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 15:26:55 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Bob Mumford Subject: Re: Horseshoe Crabs and Shorebirds Comments: cc: Olmerj@aol.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Monday I visited Port Mahon Road and Pickering Beach in Delaware, as I have been doing most years of the last two decades. Here are my observations and conclusions: Observations: 1. The crabs appear to be about 10% of the numbers of twenty years ago, particularly along Port Mahon Road. 2. Shore bird numbers were also way down. 3. I saw not a single Red Knot along Port Mahon, and only a handful (maybe six flying) at Pickering. 4. Gulls, particularly Herring, were up substantially in numbers from early visits. 5. I found six tagged crabs at Pickering. 6. The rip-rap along Port Mahon Road has been built up to protect the road from overwash. 7. Fisherpeople along PM Road were in much greater numbers than in years past. 8. The residents along the beach at Pickering have put up a sign that allows no taking of crabs along "their" beach. I met Sheila Eyler at Pickering, the young USF&WS woman who is conducting Horseshoe Crab research there. She advised: 1. The team tagged 4000 crabs last year and 2500 so far this year. There is little fidelity to nesting, with some crabs tagged at Pickering showing up at Cape May. 2. Females were observed spawning up to five times and males up to ten times during the study last year. They sometimes come up on the beach on successive high tides. 3. The scientists see no population change during the three years of the survey. 4. Delaware still permits taking Horseshoe Crabs for the bait trade. On two days a week - Tuesday and Thursday as I recall - a TRUCKLOAD of crabs can be legally taken each day! I have personally seen the locals filling up the back of a pickup truck, although I did not see enough crabs this year to make that possible. 5. The Pickering Beach residents have been very supportive and helpful to the USF&WS. While the observations of one person on typically one day a season do not constitute science and certainly would not be consider statistically valid, my conclusions are follow: 1. The Horseshoe Crab population has taken a dramatic downwards turn over the last two decades. However, any government agency like the USF&WS is going to be very, very cautious in reporting this kind of trend. 2. Shorebirds that depend on the crab eggs have also diminished, at least along Delaware Bay beaches frequented by birders. 3. Red Knots are down substantially. I have read this elsewhere too, and it is apparently fact. 4. The rip rap along Port Mahon Road is having a negative effect on the crabs. Some are caught in the large rocks, others cannot get to the high tide reach. Sand augmentation at Pickering may also have a negative effect. 5. Gulls consume a disproportionate share of the crab egg harvest due to large appetite and increased numbers. 6. If Delaware does not establish and enforce far more stringent bag limits for Horseshoe Crabs very soon, there will not be enough to worry about within a few years. 7. Not enough birders and other ecologists have made their voices heard in this serious and disturbing situation to provide the political muscle to affect change and prevent disaster. 8. Commercial interests are far more successful in some political circles than ecologists and so far have the upper hand in Delaware. Recommendations: 1. Read more lengthy reports on the web. Become fully informed. 2. Write the Director of the USF&WS, senators and congresspeople with your concerns. 3. Even though it might be a "drop in the bucket", when you visit the beaches and find overturned but alive Horseshoe Crabs, turn them right side up. If each visiting birder did this to a few dozen and saved their lives, it would likely make an impact. If only a few people do it, there will be no effect. I was quickly able to right over 125 crabs. In the old days this was not necessary or critical. It might be now. Bob Mumford Darnestown, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================