...... .During May and early June, the shores of Delaware Bay come alive with the arrival of more than 20 species of migratory shorebirds. This is an important stop over which provides much needed food for their migration north.They have traveled from the coasts of Brazil, Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego, from desert beaches of Chile and Peru, and from mud flats in Suriname, Venezuela, and the Guyana's. Flying for several days with out stopping these birds are hungry when they arrive in Delaware Bay.

.. ..... At the same time of the year 10's of thousands of Horseshoe Crabs are busy spawning on the beach's leaving millions of eggs exposed . The Birds take full advantage of this and feed on this high protein, high fat eggs that will supply the energy-rich food they need to fatting up for the long trip north. Weighing only 100 grams when they arrive they almost double their weight in the short time on the Bay. Red Knots need all this stored energy to fly north to the Arctic breeding grounds and build their nests.

.... ....Red Knots time their arrival in Delaware Bay to coincide with the crabs laying their eggs. Horseshoe Crab Eggs are the main food source for many of the migratory birds particularly the Red Knots. The Birds only stay for about ten days and then fly off to their Arctic nesting areas. Timing is everything and by the time the Red knots arrive in the Arctic the weather has warmed up and there is a furry of insect activity. Flying insects hatch out by the billions and become the food for the birds and their young. This gluttonous supply of bugs are available for only a short period of time so the Red Knots migration has to be timed just right.

.... .... The Population has declined over the year so scientist have been studying the Red Knots to Gather information about this species migration patterns and population. Since 1997 the state of Delaware along with local and international groups have been studying these birds; primarily the Red Knot because it is consider to be a threaten species. A team form the British Society of Ornithology comes to Delaware Bay at their own expense to study these unique birds and to gather the information needed to protection this species and other migratory shore birds.

........ Below is a Video segment of the local volunteers, the State of Delaware and the British Ornithologist capturing migratory shore birds, Banding (Ringing), gathering all the bird information and then finally releasing ................REDKNOT VIDEO