Horseshoe Crab Monitoring 2024
Spawning horseshoe crabs at Big Egg Marsh. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
VOLUNTEER AS A HORSESHOE CRAB MONITOR
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Horseshoe crab monitoring is a fun and easy volunteer activity, and an important way to contribute to scientific research and bird protection. Volunteers join NYC Bird Alliance on beaches in Jamaica Bay on 12 nights in May and June to count, measure, and tag Atlantic horseshoe crabs, the eggs of which are a critical food source for migrating shorebirds like the Red Knot. NYC Bird Alliance coordinates monitoring efforts at two beaches, Plumb Beach in Brooklyn (split into a east and a west side) and Big Egg Marsh in Queens, as part of a larger Horseshoe Crab Monitoring Network. Monitoring dates are chosen based on the full and new moons. Scroll down for more details about NYC Bird Alliance's monitoring sites and the 2024 monitoring dates.
VOLUNTEER INFO SESSION
Missed the info session? Learn more about the program or, if you're a returning volunteer, get a refresher by viewing the recording of the info session from April 10.
IMPORTANT NOTES
GROUPS AND FAMILIES WELCOME!
Kids are welcome, but we require that minors under 18 years old be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please note that it will be dark by the end of the shift, and there will be some wading in the water.
ACCESSIBILITY
Participation in this project requires walking about one mile on the beach and other uneven terrain, including wading through water of up to 10” deep. Note that it will be dark by the end of the shift, and while no specialized equipment is needed, you will need to bring water shoes/shoes that can get wet, and a headlamp.
TRANSPORTATION
Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the monitoring sites. Public transportation by bus and subway is limited, so be sure to carefully check availability or arrange your own way there. NYC Bird Alliance does not arrange carpools but may be able to facilitate connections with other volunteers. Once you are assigned to a shift date and location, feel free to contact your fellow volunteers to share transportation.
GEAR AND CLOTHING
For your volunteer shifts, you’ll need to bring with you:
- Clothing that you don't mind getting wet
- Water shoes, old sneakers, or tall rubber rain boots
- Warm layer and windbreaker (it’s always a little cooler at the beach)
- Foul-weather gear in case of rain
- Change of pants, socks, and shoes
- Water bottle to rinse off your shoes
- Headlights with extra batteries (you’ll need your hands, so bring a headlamp, not a flashlight)
- Insect repellent
MONITORING SITES
1) PLUMB BEACH EAST, BROOKLYN
Site Coordinator: Ann Seligman (HSCsinNYC@gmail.com / cell 917.327.9210)
Monitoring Dates and Times:
| Day of Week | Monitoring Date | Monitoring Start Time (highest high tide) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | May 5, 2024 | 6:34pm |
| Tuesday | May 7, 2024 | 8:11pm |
| Thursday | May 9, 2024 | 9:45pm |
| Tuesday | May 21, 2024 | 7:26pm |
| Thursday | May 23, 2024 | 8:36pm |
| Saturday | May 25, 2024 | 9:55pm |
| Tuesday | June 4, 2024 | 7:02pm |
| Thursday | June 6, 2024 | 8:37pm |
| Saturday | June 8, 2024 | 10:11pm |
| Wednesday | June 19, 2024 | 6:51pm |
| Friday | June 21, 2024 | 8:14pm |
| Sunday | June 23, 2024 | 9:43pm |
Please note that volunteers should meet on the beach between 45-60 minutes prior to the monitoring start time. Site coordinators will send detailed instructions, including specific meeting times, a couple of days before the monitoring date.
Directions to Plumb Beach East
- Map of monitoring sites
- Meeting point: Plumb Beach parking lot
- Driving directions: Take eastbound Belt Parkway. It’s marked as a rest area, just after Exit 9 (Knapp St.). Note that it is not accessible from the westbound side.
- Public transportation: Take the B or Q subway to Sheepshead Bay, and then (1) car/taxi approx. 2 miles to the Plumb Beach parking lot or (2) take the B4 bus to Shore Pkwy/Brigham St and walk approx. 0.8 miles to the Plumb Beach parking lot. Be sure to check the MTA bus schedules.
2) PLUMB BEACH WEST, BROOKLYN
Site Coordinator: Nancy Liang (nancy.h.liang@gmail.com / cell 917.434.8121)
Monitoring Dates and Times:
| Day of Week | Monitoring Date | Monitoring Start Time (highest high tide) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | May 5, 2024 | 6:34pm |
| Tuesday | May 7, 2024 | 8:11pm |
| Thursday | May 9, 2024 | 9:45pm |
| Tuesday | May 21, 2024 | 7:26pm |
| Thursday | May 23, 2024 | 8:36pm |
| Saturday | May 25, 2024 | 9:55pm |
| Tuesday | June 4, 2024 | 7:02pm |
| Thursday | June 6, 2024 | 8:37pm |
| Saturday | June 8, 2024 | 10:11pm |
| Wednesday | June 19, 2024 | 6:51pm |
| Friday | June 21, 2024 | 8:14pm |
| Sunday | June 23, 2024 | 9:43pm |
Please note that volunteers should meet on the beach between 45-60 minutes prior to the monitoring start time. Site coordinators will send detailed instructions, including specific meeting times, a couple of days before the monitoring date.
Directions to Plumb Beach West
- Map of monitoring sites
- Meeting point: Plumb Beach parking lot
- Driving directions: Take eastbound Belt Parkway. It’s marked as a rest area, just after Exit 9 (Knapp St.). Note that it is not accessible from the westbound side.
- Public transportation: Take the B or Q subway to Sheepshead Bay, and then (1) car/taxi approx. 2 miles to the Plumb Beach parking lot or (2) take the B4 bus to Shore Pkwy/Brigham St and walk approx. 0.8 miles to the Plumb Beach parking lot. Be sure to check the MTA bus schedules.
3) BIG EGG MARSH, QUEENS
Site Coordinator: Dottie Werkmeister (DottieHSC@gmail.com / cell 646.734.6768)
Monitoring Dates and Times:
| Day of Week | Monitoring Date | Monitoring Start Time (highest high tide) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | May 5, 2024 | 7:09pm |
| Tuesday | May 7, 2024 | 8:46pm |
| Thursday | May 9, 2024 | 10:20pm |
| Tuesday | May 21, 2024 | 8:01pm |
| Thursday | May 23, 2024 | 9:11pm |
| Saturday | May 25, 2024 | 10:30pm |
| Tuesday | June 4, 2024 | 7:37pm |
| Thursday | June 6, 2024 | 9:12pm |
| Saturday | June 8, 2024 | 10:46pm |
| Wednesday | June 19, 2024 | 7:26pm |
| Friday | June 21, 2024 | 8:49pm |
| Sunday | June 23, 2024 | 10:18pm |
Please note that volunteers should meet on the beach between 45-60 minutes prior to the monitoring start time. Site coordinators will send detailed instructions, including specific meeting times, a couple of days before the monitoring date.
Directions to Big Egg Marsh
- Map of monitoring sites
- Meeting point: Big Egg parking lot, at W 22nd Road Queens, NY, 11693. From the parking lot, the group will walk through the baseball field down to the beach.
- Driving directions: W 22nd Road is the last right turn before the toll booth, just after the traffic light at W 20th Road.
- Public transportation:
- Arrival at the beach: Take the Q52/53 bus to the Cross Bay Blvd/W. 15th Rd stop. You can either get picked up from here or walk 0.4 miles to the parking lot. Be sure to check the MTA bus schedules.
- Departure from the beach: Walk 0.4 miles or get dropped off at the Cross Bay Blvd/W. 16th Rd stop to catch the Q53 bus. Be sure to check the MTA bus schedules.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Senior Manager of Community Science & Collision Reduction, Katherine Chen (kchen@nycbirdalliance.org).
