Spring Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Festival

The Wetlands Institute is pleased to announce our 1^st annual Spring Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Festival.

Located on the Cape May Peninsula between the Delaware Bay and Atlantic beaches, the Wetlands Institute is situated in an area considered to host one of the “wonders of the world.” With an act of timing only Mother Nature can provide, horseshoe crabs climb onto the beaches of the Delaware Bay to lay their eggs, while thousands of shorebirds time a pit stop in their spring migration route to feed on these energy-packed horseshoe crab eggs. With so much life and a myriad of rare and endangered species on our beaches, it is impossible not to appreciate this phenomenon!

Come join the Wetlands Institute and the Delaware Bay Shorebird Initiative for a festival that celebrates an amazing spectacle of nature – the shorebird migration and horseshoe crab spawning season. Children and guests of all ages can enjoy guided shorebird walks along our local beaches and salt marshes, guided viewings of shorebird and horseshoe crab interactions along the Delaware Bay, naturalist-led horseshoe crab night walks, opportunities to view and participate in shorebird tagging with the International Shorebird Research Team, live horseshoe crab demonstrations, face painting, and hands-on education and conservation-based activities and games.

On Friday evening May 17, we will host a special George Clark lecture “Shorebirds Around the World” presented by the International Shorebird Team, shorebird researchers from all over the world that come to Delaware Bay annually to study, band and count shorebirds at Delaware Bay’s critical shorebird stopover. Authors will be on hand to sign “Life Along the Delaware Bay”.

Proceeds will be contributed to the Delaware Bay International Shorebird Project and the Wetlands Institute’s conservation and education programs focused on shorebird and horseshoe crab conservation.

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Specific Festival Activities Details - What, where and when!

Non-Member: $15 Adult, $10 Child
Member: $13 Adult, $8 Child
*Ticket good for all event days, Friday lecture only $5*

Friday May 17, 7:00pm
Location: Wetlands Institute

Special Evening Lecture “Shorebirds Around the World”

Saturday May 18 and Sunday May 19, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Location: Wetlands Institute

Horseshoe Crab Teaching Tank and Aquaculture
Horseshoe Crab tagging demonstrations
Salt Marsh Trail Walks and Shorebird Identification
Guided Viewing from the Tower
Assorted Children’s Activities and Games – Theme Shorebirds and Horseshoe Crabs
Face Painting
Book signings by Philip Hoose, author of Moonbird
Water Conservation Activities

Saturday May 18
Location: Stone Harbor Point

Guided Beach Walks to View Roosting Shorebirds
- 9:00am to 10:30am
- 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Location: Reeds and Cooks Beaches, Delaware Bay

Guided Shorebird Viewing from Viewing Platforms 10:00am to 2:00pm
Shorebird Banding, Saturday 10:00am – 2:00pm (come prepared with proper clothing, water, snacks or lunch)
Horseshoe Crab Spawning Guided Walks, Saturday Evening

Sunday May 19
Location: Reeds and Cooks Beaches, Delaware Bay

Guided shorebird Viewing Platforms 10-2

Location: Stone Harbor Point

Guided Beach Walks to View Shorebirds 9:00 am – 10:30

Click here for a detailed schedule of activities

Here is how to prepare for beach activities:

WHAT TO WEAR: Very casual comfortable clothes and shoes. Rain is possible so check the weather forecast and dress appropriately.

WHAT TO BRING: Hat, sunscreen, bug spray, water, and binoculars or spotting scopes if you have them, and a camera if you would like to pictures. Each site will have a spotting scope and a few pairs of extra binoculars so that everyone can get a close up view of the shorebirds.

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Wednesday May 22 and Wednesday June 5
(there is no fee for this activity) Location: Kimbles Beach

Cape May National Wildlife Refuge Horseshoe Crab Tagging special additional volunteer opportunity:

Cape May National Wildlife Refuge will be tagging horseshoe crabs on Wednesday, May 22 and Wednesday, June 5 at 8:30 PM. This effort provides valuable information on horseshoe crab spawning. Please meet at the end of Kimbles Beach Road- at the Delaware Bay in Cape May Court House. We will go over the tagging process and then begin tagging after the shorebirds have left the area. Each crab will be sexed, tagged, and released. We usually tag for 2 hours. It will be dark when we are tagging, so please bring a headlamp or flashlight, wear shoes and pants that can get wet, and be prepared for gnats and mosquitoes! Also, due to the increased interest in this program, we do not have enough battery powered electric drills for all of the teams. If you have a drill, charged battery pack, and a 5/32 drill bit, please bring it along! Kids are welcome too (must be accompanied by an adult).