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Re: Horseshoe Crabs (slightly off topic)

From:

Sandra Z Wilson

Reply-To:

Sandra Z Wilson

Date:

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 17:04:48 -0400

Let me offer a suggestion that might lead to a number of positive results
regarding these overturned horseshoe crabs.  Does anyone have contacts with
teachers of biology or scout leaders in the area where these horseshoe crabs
are in need of help??  This could be a great teaching tool, could get kids
involved, and could be tied to the recent PBS documentary on Red Knots and
horseshoe crabs.  There is a Bird Study merit badge for Boy Scouts.

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone in the area.

Sandy Z. Wilson

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Bob Mumford
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 11:50 AM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Horseshoe Crabs (slightly off topic)

Like Harry Armistead and others, I was over at Slaughter Beach, DE, on  
Wednesday and noted the large numbers of stranded horseshoe crabs.
 
I got to thinking: we birders have been understandably very upset with the  
over-harvest of horseshoe crabs and the effect of that take on egg 
production  and thus the survival of Red Knots.  Yet few people make any
effort at 
all  to rescue overturned crabs to allow them to get back into the water or 
transport  crabs stranded in parking lots and other unsuitable locations.
 
Chris and I overturned about 50 crabs in ten minutes or so on Slaughter  
Beach, but of the 25 or so birders I saw during the day, no one else did  
anything that I witnessed.
 
I have heard the argument that crabs have evolved over a million years or  
so and so have survived despite the losses due to overturning in the surf or

 being stranded by extra high tides far from the water's edge.  But  
evolution occurred before there were roads, parking lots, rip rap, piers,  
breakwaters and all the other accouterments of civilization.
 
I wonder what the effect would be if every birder visiting the shores of  
Delaware Beach turned over or rescued just 25 crabs a day?  Helpful?   
Significant?  Enough to offset the losses to crabbers?
 
Bob Mumford
Darnestown
**************We found the real 'Hotel California' and the 'Seinfeld' 
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