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On our final effort to trap shorebirds on Delaware Bay, we had the remarkable opportunity to watch sanderling and ruddy turnstones lift off for the Arctic. We first saw them feeding on the wave-tossed shoreline within the protected area in Villas; 1500 birds weaving as a single thread 5 deep with the contours of the wave, acting like a flying flock on the ground. Then a disturbance, a crow flying low down the shoreline and 2000 birds fill the sky.  Most settled again but one group of about 300 flew more with greater determination than the rest. Still low but gaining altitude the flock wavered, and a mutinous band peeled away deciding against the departure returned to the safety and abundant crab eggs on the shore just north of us.  The other 150 grew more determined, more structured and rose slowly as they powered their way north. Then they disappeared into the Northern sky.

Shorebirds leave Delaware Bay for thier Arctic Breeding areas.

Shorebirds leave Delaware Bay for thier Arctic Breeding areas.

Shorebirds departing Delaware Bay for their Arctic home, 2500 miles away stand as one of the most awe-inspiring and rewarding parts of our stopover project. They usually start in the early evening under a blue sky drenched with the glow of the setting sun and continue until near dark.  They almost always go with a favorable southerly breeze and at least a clear sky in the north.  Thousands of all the species after getting fat on the Bay’s bounty of horseshoe crab eggs – red knots, ruddy turnstones, sanderling, semipalmated sandpipers, short-billed dowitchers and dunlin –  lift slowly as they fly along the Cape May peninsula coast towards Dennisville and beyond.

 

Migration watches from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. Weather conditions appeared good for migration except on May 30, 2016 when light rain and 100% cloud cover persisted all day and into the evening. Conditions were good for final major migration on June 1, but no observations were made. All species counted. Observations mainly by Clive Minton, Joanna Burger, Mike Gochfeld, Larry Niles, and Guy Morrison.

Migration watches from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. Weather conditions appeared good for migration except on May 30, 2016 when light rain and 100% cloud cover persisted all day and into the evening. Conditions were good for final major migration on June 1, but no observations were made. All species counted.
Observations mainly by Clive Minton, Joanna Burger, Mike Gochfeld, Larry Niles, and Guy Morrison.

 

 

 

They are dangerously overloaded with fat. Two birds highlighted the importance of this.  On May 30 we caught 97 knots, 168 sanderlings and 75 ruddy turnstones.  Among each species were individuals of extraordinary weight.  One bird weighed 242 grams, fully 120 grams higher than the fat free weight!  They cart this load, like a plane with extra gas tanks, to fly two days to the Arctic islands of Canada.   Imagine for a moment – you weigh 150 pounds and gain an extra hundred and fifty, then try to go anywhere, especially for 2000 miles.

 

There are mostly fat birds in this video taken at the end of the season, but looking closely one sees thin birds as well.  There are three species in this video, red knots, ruddy turnstone, sanderling and semi-palmated sandpipers

The fact that they can do this is a marvel of flight bio-engineering.  While building weight they prepare like weight lifters, increasing muscle mass, heart size, and lung capacity.  Close to leaving, they decrease the organs of digestion just to squeeze in the last few grams of fat.  Then they wait for good weather, lumber into the sky and go forth into the vast north.

 

2016 was a good year for the shorebirds stopping over on the New Jersey coast. Most came in better-than-average condition, so they had a head start.  The early spawn was strangled by cold water which seemed to hover around the temperature threshold for spawning- 59 degrees F.  Tellingly however, the crabs spawned with gusto on the beaches from northern Reeds to Pierce’s Point. There the five inter-tidal creeks and inter-tidal flats warm the water that washes over spawn-inviting shoals and newly restored beaches.  Throughout the stopover a majority of the bay’s population foraged on the eggs laid by vigorously spawning horseshoe crabs.  On one day we saw a 10,000 red knot flocks on North Reeds Beach happily roosting and feeding on the abundant eggs.

red knots on north reeds

In this iPhone panorama of north reeds beach one could see over 8000 red knots feeding on abundant crab eggs.

 

crabs spawning on Villas

 

Eventually the spawn accelerated and expanded but the birds still needed to get to the eggs.  If constantly disturbed by people, they will move endlessly often to lesser habitat if only to avoid disturbance.  In New Jersey we prevent this. Each year for the last 15 years, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife in collaboration with Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, close the beaches important to crabs while leaving small observation areas open to the public.  The impact is non-intuitive but positive.

 

 

Niel Olafson have been stewarding beaches for over 10 years.  Stewards not only defend beaches from the few people determined to breach the rope barriers, but bring their own outreach materials to educate people on the importance of stewardship.  They also rescue stranded crabs in tough spots like abandoned bulkheads.

Niel Olafson have been stewarding beaches for over 10 years.  Stewards not only defend beaches from the few people determined to breach the rope barriers, but bring their own outreach materials to educate people on the importance of stewardship.  They also rescue stranded crabs in tough spots like abandoned bulkheads.

 

The closed beaches allow shorebirds to gorge on eggs unmolested by people: photographers and birders wanting to get one step closer for the perfect picture, compassionate people wanting to overturn crabs left stranded by the tide, or fishermen wanting to cast for the stripers that run in May.  All with good intentions they scatter birds and force them to fly to other less suitable and less accessible beaches losing valuable gained weight in the process.   The closures allow the birds to stay in the best places and eat like kings.  Paradoxically the bird photographers and watchers end up with even better views because the birds adapt to the settled threat. Even fishermen find enough space to fish from the observation areas.

 

This person unaware of her impact has cleared the area of shorebird leaving all the eggs to laughing gulls, who as we all know fear no human. 

This person unaware of her impact has cleared the area of shorebird leaving all the eggs to laughing gulls, who as we all know fear no human.  Notice crab spawning at the end of the sandy spit in Villas

 

At the height of the season people could come to one of the five observation areas in the Reeds, Pierce’s Cove and see flocks of nearly 30,000 shorebirds including 14,000 red knots – two thirds of the  whole population in the bay this year (as determined by air and ground counts).  Photographers, birders and inquisitive people had a wonderful experience and the birds got fat.

 

Despite the difficulties caused by the unusually cold spring, most birds of the three species we follow reached good departure weights and by May 26th they started to leave. By June 1st most were gone and by June 2nd we advised reopening the beaches, 5 days earlier than the usual June 7th opening.

 

These graphs show the average weights of each catch made from 1997 to 2016. ( 2016 is in bold characters) for each of three species red knot, ruddy turnstone and sanderling. Each species achieved good weight in good time.

These graphs show the average weights of each catch made from 1997 to 2016. ( 2016 is in bold characters) for each of three species red knot, ruddy turnstone and sanderling. Each species achieved good weight as indicated by the dotted horizontal line at the top.

Our team of scientists, managers, students, volunteers, and stewards deserve praise for all the various projects and research conducted throughout the season, from cannon netting and bird study, resightings of previously banded birds, research on shorebird movement, research on oyster reefs and structural aquaculture, monitoring of horseshoe crabs, monitoring crab egg densities, volunteer efforts to rescue stranded crabs, to steward protected areas and tag crabs. Also, the volunteers of Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River deserve a special thanks for their logistical support for our team, they prepared over 20 dinners for 30 plus people every night of our project.  Birds and Scientists all gain weight in May!

 

They all deserve gratitude, from the birds and horseshoe crabs, the people who love birds and horseshoe crabs and the people who love Delaware Bay.

2016 NJ Delaware Bay Shorebird Team

2016 NJ Delaware Bay Shorebird Team

 

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