This is sad news indeed. I thought that there were laws already in place to preserve Horeshoe Crabs. Perhaps we can organize some sort protest to this activity.....?????? William Leigh Winchester Va tern@visuallink.com -----Original Message----- From: peter vankevich <pvankevich@hotmail.com> To: mdosprey@ARI.Net <mdosprey@ARI.Net> Date: Wednesday, May 12, 1999 7:11 PM Subject: Hosreshore Crabs and Port Mahon Rd. > On Tuesday, May 11 1999 I and a couple of friends decided to take a day off >for day of birding in Delaware. After spending the day in the Pocomoke >Swamp, Redden State Forest and Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge, we ended the >afternoon on Port Mahon Road in Little Creek. What was planned as a pleasant >end to a good birding day, turned in a very disturbing sight. Along the >road, I counted 10 pickup trucks all nearly filled with Horseshoe crabs. >People were just throwing the crabs up to their trucks. There were hardly >any crabs visible and the "harversters" were wading in the water to take >others. Since the people were spread out along the road, there were not any >shorebirds near them. Finally, at one point near the end of the road were >hundreds of Ruddy Turnstones (with a lone Sanderling and no Red Knots) >huddled in a feeding frenzy. > > I am a frequent visitor to this great shorebird road. I, like most birders, >visit on weekends and never have I seen anything like this. The shorebirds >were obviously disturbed, not to mention what must be happening to the >Horseshoe crab breeding situation. I have been visiting this area since 1980 >and have noted substantial declines in the Horseshoe crab population. > > If this activity is legal, why are there not any Fish and Wildlife >personnel or other state/federal agents observing and recording the numbers >of Horseshoe crabs taken in this manner? > > Is this not a serious disturbance to shorebirds in a critical and sensitive >area that is needed in order to feed, rest and prepare for the long flight >north? > > I realize changing regulations is a cumbersome and time consuming process. >But can't a "Sensitive Wildlife Area Do Not Enter" sign be placed along the >side of this road in the interim? > > Something must be done. > >Peter Vankevich, >President >New Columbia Audubon Society of Washington, DC. > > > > >_______________________________________________________________ >Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com