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Comments

• [1] mc from Brooklyn June 12, 2008 - 08:27AM

  You used to be able to go to the Deleware Bay beaches in mid-May near the full or new moon and see the beaches teeming with red knots and ruddy turnstones, sandpipers that gorged themselves on horseshoe crab eggs, nearly doubling their weight before continuing their flight from Argentina to near the Arctic. Now the beaches are empty. The crabs would lay eggs at the time that the tides were beneficial to them, hence the relationship with the moon phases.

  
  
• [2] The Skipper from Belmar, New Jersey June 12, 2008 - 11:42AM

  In my youth, some 30 years ago, my friends and I would gather once a year, on the first full moon of June, to celebrate "Horseshoe Crab Love Night."

  We'd lean over a little bridge above a shallow estuary, and train powerful flashlights down into the dark water. There we'd observe Horseshoe Crabs doing what they've been doing, every Spring for over 100 million years. Now, Horseshoe Crab Love may not be the prettiest of sights, but considering how long they've been going at it, it always seemed like a fine reason to raise a few frosty ones, and cheer on the next generation.

  
  
• [3] samet from Brooklyn Heights/Tribeca June 12, 2008 - 12:28PM

  http://www.gowanuslounge.com/2008/06/10/brookvid-horseshoe-crabs-in-the-gowanus-canal/

  Horseshoe crabs were filmed in the Gowanus this week. I was surprised they were there, let alone 'alive' while there, apartently getting it on with each other to make more.

  
  
• [4] Johnny S from Cranford, NJ June 12, 2008 - 01:48PM

  Overfishing, rightly, gets lot of the blame for their decline. But global warming may be another culpret as vast numbers of Laughing Gull have come to live in the north and feast on their eggs.

  
  
• [5] john from Brooklyn June 12, 2008 - 01:52PM

  You have to check this out...

  http://www.harrysaarinen.com/8%20%20%20horseshoecrab.gif

  real??

  
  
• [6] Josh from Brooklyn June 12, 2008 - 02:04PM

  The reliance of Atlantic Flyway migrating birds on horseshoe crab eggs was way understated in the interview. The red knot, which makes the longest annual migration of any bird, virtually pole to pole, is especially dependent upon the eggs as a food source in order to complete the journey. They and most other migratory birds, are dwindling in number.

  
  
• [7] Deborah Pekarek from Scarsdale NY June 12, 2008 - 02:11PM

  Horsehoe crabs spawn at Orchard Beach in the Bronx and at Marshlands in Rye. The NY Park Rangers at Orchard Beach have some info as does Wave Hill,for children to learn about these amazing creatures. Westchester Parks has outdoor educators at Marshlands who are quite amazing and protect the crabs.

  It would be nice to see more ed outreach... city agencies working together ie NY Dept of Ed and Park Rangers. This is great science and kids are awestruck by these crabs. My Bx 3rd gr class did a Shoreline Sci unit of study, Seeds of Science,Roots of Reading and our field trip to Orchard Beach was incredible!

  
  
• [8] Deb from Webster, NY June 17, 2008 - 08:26PM

  There is research now to find alternate bait for conche and eel fishermen so the horseshoe crab harvesting can get back to managable levels. The red knot migration is not looking promising this year, so the ban on overharvesting of the horseshoe crabs may have come too late. Some believe there are plenty of the crabs but the shorelines may be dwindling, consequently the red knots have fewer alternatives to replump their weight.