Red Knot, Shorebirds Vital to the Economy

The Delaware Bay is an exceptional natural resource that provides habitat for many resident and migratory fish and wildlife species. These species bring many paying visitors to the county. With proper management, the Delaware Bay also provides a valuable fishing industry which contributes to the local and state economy. These two important industries contribute significantly to the economic vitality, cultural identify and quality of life in the county. The recent article “Oysters vs. Red Knots, Working on Accord” pits the oyster aquaculture industry against the protection and recovery of the red knot.  The reality couldn’t be farther from the truth. We believe that we can protect and restore the red knot and other shorebird populations while growing a robust and thriving oyster industry.
It is our obligation to protect our wildlife species. We only need to look back to our recent history to recall what will happen when we fail. There was a time when billions of passenger pigeons darkened the skies for days during annual migration across the U.S., including New Jersey. The Carolina Parakeet, our only native North American parakeet, once numerous across the country but now extinct, also inhabited the forests of New Jersey into the early 20th century. Even more recently, we lost the Eskimo Curlew, last seen alive in 1970 but gone from New Jersey long before. The causes of extinction for these species are typical of species’ declines worldwide: loss of habitat, alteration to food sources, and over-hunting. What’s most alarming is that these bird populations were once thought to be indestructible; their numbers “too big to fail.” The reality, though, is that they are now gone forever, due to forces entirely within our control.
The red knot is a species in need of protection. Beyond our obligation to protect the species from extinction, it’s vital to a thriving economy. We know that the red knot and horseshoe crab phenomenon is a spectacle worth many tens of millions of dollars in local revenue generation annually. In 2000, Ted Eubanks conducted an economic impact study of Delaware Bay and produced rigorous findings indicating an annual influx of $16 to $34 million from tourists visiting the Delaware Bay explicitly for viewing the shorebird migration phenomenon. We also know that bird watchers are a population on the rise, such that Eubanks’ numbers are very likely gross underestimates in today’s economy. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a study in 2011 that estimated the total number of bird watchers (those people who travelled 1 mile or more from their home with the specific intention of watching birds) at 47 million in the U.S. Of these, 18 million were “destination birders” or those that actively travelled significant distances to view birds. The same 2011 study calculated the national “trip-related expenditures” (food, lodging, and transportation) for bird watchers as nearly $15 billion annually. This does not include equipment such as binoculars, telescopes or cameras.
The fact remains that the horseshoe crab and shorebird spectacle is the biggest draw for tourism to the region from mid-April to mid-June. During the month of May, New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory, The Wetlands Institute at Stone Harbor, and new this year, the American Birding Association in Delaware City, Del., are each holding independent festivals focused directly on the massive spectacle of shorebird migration on the Delaware Bay. These events bring thousands of new visitors to the region, on top of those already visiting to watch birds; increasing overnight stays region-wide and flooding the local economy with much-needed income. In the case of New Jersey Audubon, over half of participants register for all three days of programming during our Spring Festival, meaning at least three to four overnight stays. In the Eubanks’ 2000 study, participants indicated a similar stay length of 3.69 nights.
New Jersey Audubon supports a robust and thriving oyster aquaculture industry.  However, we believe that the industry can continue, and even expand, without threatening the areas most vital to shorebirds and the federally-protected red knot. The large majority of aquaculture takes place outside of areas that are critical to the long-term viability of red knots and horseshoe crabs. These sites, particularly those that have been restored recently to benefit these species, should be protected. We believe that many alternatives exist that can allow the oyster aquaculture industry to grow and still avoid sensitive red knot and horseshoe crab areas. A healthy red knot population and a thriving oyster aquaculture industry do not have to be mutually exclusive. Finding ways for these interests to elevate each other will ensure greater benefits for all aspects of the Delaware Bay.
There is a reason the State of New Jersey has invested millions of dollars restoring Delaware Bay beaches to improve habitat for the red knot and an entire suite of migratory shorebird species. If we bring back the shorebird migration phenomenon to its historical level, we will not only be safeguarding the species from extinction, and ensuring the legacy of one of the greatest natural wonders on Earth, we will be solidifying and growing the economy of the region. 
The author is the director of New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory.