Red Knot feeding in early morning light – Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
I have written before on how Red Knots are a species on the edge because of plummeting populations declines and today they still need our help.
Red Knot populations are in serious decline partly due to the over-harvesting of Horseshoe Crabs along the Atlantic coast of the United States, the eggs of which are an important food source for this species. Red Knots fatten up on the crab eggs during their long migration north and without the stored energy those eggs provide many breeding adults do not have enough body mass to make the journey to the Arctic tundra to successfully breed. Some states have helped by regulating the harvest of Horseshoe Crabs but these shorebirds still need our help.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed protecting the Red Knot under the Endangered Species Act, and is accepting public comments through May 19, 2014.
Please consider raising your voice and send a message to the FWS that imperiled Red Knots need our support now. We have just three days left in the commenting period. You can easily send a letter of support to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through Audubon by clicking here. (Link is no longer valid)
Thank you in advance for your help.
Mia
Thanks, Mia – letter sent!
PS Gorgeous photo.
Nice image of this Robin-sized champion migratory bird. I like what I found at the National Geo. and I left a comment with your link Mia (if they let it stay).
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/10/131003-rufa-red-knot-threatened-endangered-migrating-birds/
After more reading I found that the living fossil horseshoe crab is commonly used as bait and in fertilizer, and it’s eggs aid the Red Knots, but are not being harvested as the link-form letter stated. Also bled for their blue blood (copper based) which you can read more about in a recent Atlantic article.
I am sorry to hear that we are pushing yet another species to the edge. And hope (so much) it can be saved.
I read a delightful young adult book about a red knot who lived for many years. What a migration. The book talked about the issues they face with the crabs being harvested and the urban sprawl.
Mia – Brings back memories. Sherry and I worked on Red Knot conservation for several years in the early 90’s. Sherry tracked several birds from the Canadian Arctic to the southern tip of Argentina and back for part of her master’s degree.
Thanks for this information Mia and the wonderful images and the link also which I did send a letter of support to.
So sad that this pretty bird is “on the edge”…we humans are so pathetically destructive when it comes to “sharing” this universe and it’s declining diversity.
It sure is a beautiful bird!