Re: Hosreshore Crabs and Port Mahon Rd.

William Leigh (tern@visuallink.com)
Thu, 13 May 1999 20:27:37 -0700


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.
>
>
>
>
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