BirdNote Daily Red Knots Refuel in the Delaware Bay
Nov 11, 2025
The Red Knot embarks on an incredible 9,000-mile migration between the Arctic and Tierra del Fuego. They rely on Delaware Bay as a crucial stop, timing their arrival with the spawning of horseshoe crabs to feast on their eggs. Overharvesting once threatened these vital food supplies, but conservation efforts, like the female harvest ban, have encouraged recovery. As horseshoe crab populations rise, so do the Red Knots, showing hopeful signs for the future of these remarkable travelers.
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Epic Migration Depends On Stopovers
- The Red Knot completes one of the longest bird migrations, around 9,000 miles between Arctic tundra and Tierra del Fuego.
- Its survival depends on precise timing and key stopovers like Delaware Bay to refuel during migration.
Horseshoe Crab Eggs Power Migration
- Red Knot arrival at Delaware Bay times with horseshoe crab spawning to access energy-rich eggs.
- Those tiny greenish eggs provide critical fuel for the next leg of the birds' journey.
Protection Helped Populations Recover
- Overharvesting cut horseshoe crab numbers by nearly 80 percent, reducing eggs available to red knots.
- Protective measures since 2013 and renewed in 2025 have helped crab numbers rebound and stabilized red knot populations.