Spring Stopover Puts Delaware at Center of Annual Shorebird Migration Phenomenon

Each May, thousands of migratory shorebirds stop along Delaware Bay to feed on horseshoe crab eggs before continuing to their Arctic breeding grounds, making the Delaware Bayshore a key stop in their journey. As more of the birds join in the migratory spectacle over the next two weeks on the Delaware Bayshore, and with species such as the threatened red knot among those arriving, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is asking residents and visitors to “Share the Shore.” Officials ask that you give them space to feed and rest—walk around flocks, avoid nesting and feeding areas, and keep pets and children from chasing them—so the birds can conserve the energy needed for their long flight north. Visitors can also observe the annual migration and horseshoe crab spawning from a safe distance at DuPont Nature Center. For more information about how these birds persevere in making their flight home – including their Delaware stopover that’s integral in getting them there – visit the de.gov/shorebirds webpage. 

Shorebirds of different species gather on Delaware Bay beaches during spring migration /Photo: Rob Robinson for Delaware DNREC — news.delaware.gov