Friends of the Red Knot

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Friends of the Red Knot Bird-A-Thon team

Friends of the Red Knot Team Identifies 102 Birds and Wins Bird-A-Thon Youth Award
 
The Friends of the Red Knot participated in the Delaware Bird-A-Thon on May 11, 2008. Five FoRK kids and their adult sponsors joined members of the Delmarva Ornithological Society (DOS) for a series of birdwalks in various habitats in central Delaware. One excursion began at 4:30 AM, and allowed the team to see some nocturnal birds, such as a Chucks Will Widow! Other habitats explored included forest, marshland and shores. Some Red Knots were spotted near the DuPont Nature Center! A rare treat was the sighting of a Wood Sandpiper, which is more likely found in Europe than on the US east coast. Birders had come from many nearby states to see this rare shorebird, and the FoRK team was fortunate to include this bird on their list.
 
The FoRK team identified 102 different species in a 24 hour period, and raised $1,019.22 in pledges! Their Bird-A-Thon effort was rewarded with the prize for most species identified and funds raised by a youth team. The kids received bird houses hand-made by DOS President Derek Stoner, and an iPod Nano with BirdJam software and Stokes Birdsong CD's. The iPod will certainly come in handy when identifying birds in next year's Bird-A-Thon!
 
Thanks to Derek Stoner and DOS Conservation Chair Bill Stewart for inviting us to participate in this year's Bird-A-Thon. And a special thanks to Mr. Derek, Mr. Bill and Ms. Judy for guiding us through our Bird-A-Thon adventure. 
 
You can learn more about the Bird-A-Thon at the DOS website: http://www.dosbirds.org
 
 

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Friends of the Red Knot at the Maryland Zoo

Friends of the Red Knot at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
 
Friends of the Red Knot presented our educational display at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore during Earth Week 2008. We shared information about Red Knots and horseshoe crabs, and collected signatures on postcards to both Governor O'Malley and Interior Secretary Kempthorne.

 
 
April 2008 - Campaign Launched to Ban Horseshoe Crab Harvesting in Maryland
 
The Friends of the Red Knot have begun a new campaign to convince Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley to ban horseshoe crab harvesting in our home state of Maryland. We have written to Governor O'Malley, explaining that 40% of the horseshoe crabs harvested from Maryland waters are part of the Delaware Bay spawning population. Furthermore, 60% of the horseshoe crabs harvested in 2007 in Maryland were females. Maryland needs to follow the example of New Jersey and do its part to help the Red Knot survive.
 
Over the next few months, Friends of the Red Knot will be asking other organizations and individuals to write to Governor O'Malley in support of a horseshoe crab harvesting ban. If you would like to write to Governor O'Malley, you can download our sample letter by clicking here. Write Letters to Save The Red Knot
 
 

Thank You New Jersey!!
 
On February 11, 2008 the NJ Marine Fisheries Council rejected a moratorium on horseshoe crab harvesting that was proposed by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. Removing this protection for horseshoe crabs could prove deadly to the Red Knot population that feeds on Delaware Bay shores.
 
Fortunately for the Red Knot, environmentalists were not about to give up! On February 21st, New Jersey legislators introduced a bill to ban horseshoe crab harvesting in New Jersey. The bill passed in the full Assembly on March 13th, then passed in the Senate on March 18th. New Jersey Governor Corzine signed the new bill into law on March 25th. Congratulations and Thank You to New Jersey for doing what was necessary to help the Red Knot.
 
Click on the link below to hear Governor Corzine's remarks at the bill signing ceremony:
 
 
 

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DNREC Fails to Stop Horseshoe Crab Harvest
 

After hearing testimony from Friends of the Red Knot and other environmental groups, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control decided to keep a limited harvest of 100,00 male horseshoe crabs. Though disappointed, Friends of the Red Knot will continue to work to further restrict or ban horseshoe crab harvesting, and to get the Red Knot placed on the Endangered Species List.

 

 

 

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Friends of the Red Knot Testify at DNREC Hearing on Horseshoe Crab Harvest
 
Five members of Friends of the Red Knot testified at a hearing before the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control on September 24, 2007. The hearing was called in order to allow public testimony about proposed changes to regulations that control horseshoe crab harvesting in the state of Delaware. The Friends of the Red Knot kids presented their view that a complete ban on horseshoe crab harvesting is necessary to protect Red Knots and other shorebirds that stop to feed on Delaware Bay beaches during migration. Their testimony was well-received by all who were present at the hearing.
 
 

 
 
 
Friends of the Red Knot featured in the Urbanite
 
The August 2007 edition of the Urbanite magazine includes an article about Friends of the Red Knot. This engaging article gives a closer look at the kids who formed this club, and their mission to save the Red Knot. A video of the kids that was filmed by the Urbanite staff can be viewed on YouTube.
 

Click here to view the Urbanite article

Click here to view the Urbanite video

 
 
 
Judge Overturns Delaware Horseshoe Crab Harvesting Ban 
 
On June 9, 2007 Superior Court Judge Richard Stokes overturned Delaware's 2-year moratorium on the harvesting of horseshoe crabs. This development highlights why it is so important to get the Red Knot added to the Endangered Species List. Federal protection of the Red Knot would override inconsistent state and local regulation of horseshoe crab harvesting.  
 
 
 

Friends of the Red Knot Visit Dupont Nature Center

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Ann Rydgren presents book to club members

On May 23, 2007, seven members of the Friends of the Red Knot were invited to the Grand Opening of the DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve. They provided a display about the work they have been doing to get the Red Knot listed as endangered. The kids handed out many letters to be signed and sent to Secretary Kempthorne, and posed for a photo in front of a beautiful sculpture of a Red Knot. Most importantly, all of the kids had a chance to see live Red Knots feeding on the beach with other shorebirds! Ann Rydgren from the Delaware Audubon Society presented the club members with audio CD's of the Piping Plover Suite, as well as a copy of "The Flight of the Red Knot", a book about the Red Knot and it's long migration. Finally, the kids toured the impressive new nature center, which focuses on shorebirds and horseshoe crabs.

For more information about the DuPont Nature Center, click here.

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Mark explains the process to the kids

Some Club Members Meet Red Knots Up Close

On May 24, 2007, five members of Friends of the Red Knot were invited to visit the team of scientists who capture, study and band Red Knots and other shorebirds. The Shorebird Project team is led by biologists Larry Niles and Amanda Dey. Also helping that day was Caroline Kennedy from Defenders of Wildlife, who had arranged for the Red Knot Club's invitation. Many other scientists and volunteers were present to help measure, tag and collect samples from the birds.

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Harry says "goodbye" before a release

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Austin holds a Ruddy Turnstone

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Emily transfers a Red Knot

The kids expected to observe the Shorebird Project team members as they trapped and processed the birds. But to their surprise, they were encouraged to help with transferring and releasing the birds! All of the kids (and their chaperones) got bird-handling instruction, and spent the next few hours assisting the biologists.

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A successful release, thanks to Russell

 Red Knots, Ruddy Turnstones, and Sanderlings were transferred from holding boxes to processing areas where they were measured, weighed, and banded. Lots of data was collected from each bird, as well as blood and feather samples. Red Knot Club members carried birds between different processing areas, and released them when the scientists had finished with them.

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Mike meets a Red Knot

 
 
 
It was a fantastic experience for the kids to actually hold in their hands the beautiful birds they are trying to save! Many thanks to Larry, Mandy, Caroline and all of the other Shorebird Team members who were so kind, encouraging and helpful!

To learn more about the biologists who are studying the Red Knots, and what they are finding out, click here to visit the Shore Bird Project Blog.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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