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May 25, 1995 - Annual Rite for an Ancient SpeciesI SA • The Suffolk Times a May 25,_ 1995 Annual Rite for an Ancient Species By Paul Stoutenburgh Some years ago Barbara and I made a trip down to Delaware Bay to see the greatest spectacle of mass movement of horseshoe crabs probably anywhere in the world. These creatures seem to step out of the past with their prehis- toric Focus On look and annual appear- Nature ance from the sea. There were thou- sands of these mating horseshoe crabs that literally paved the beaches with their bodies. Each year along our inland coast these denizens of the deep come ashore to lay their eggs to propagate their species and nowhere do they amass as they do on the shores of Delaware Bay. We here on our East End see this an- nual migration each spring along our bay shores, but in much lower numbers, and so when a friend of mine called to tell me he'd seen a sight of horseshoe crabs the likes of which he'd not seen since he was a kid,I had to explore and see for myself. He told me as he was talking to someone his eyes wandered to the water's edge and he couldn't believe what he was seeing. There in front of him were hundreds of crabs scattered all along the beach, trailing one, two and as many as five suitors trying to be first to fertilize when egg - laying commenced. We both agreed they had declined in the past and so these record numbers he re- ported were encouraging news. The Telltale Signs I took a mental note of the location and the very next day Barbara and I drove to Laurel to where they were sup - posed to be. The problem was that the tide was half in and the crabs had not as yet come ashore. We could see where they had been the night before for the beach was pockmarked with their de- pressions and mounds of sand and rub- ble where they had plowed in on the high tide to lay their eggs. Another sign telling they had been there was the tell- tale trails of their long, pointed tails in the sand as they moved along. What was on the beach in place of the horseshoe crabs were 50 to 100 migrat- Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh HORSESHOE CRAB EGGS —Few people ever see the eggs that the female horseshoe crab lays each spring along our beaches. These greenish eggs lay buried in the warm sand to await a full moon and flood tide when they'll hatch and drift away with the outgoing tide. ing shore birds feasting on the surplus eggs that had escaped from their buried nesting places. All along our eastern seaboard where this egg - laying takes place shore birds congregate to fatten up on these eggs. This is the energy they need to complete their migration to the far north where they will nest. Most were turnstones, those gaudy, brown - black- and -white shore birds that get their name from their ability to flip over shells, stones, etc., to seek out worms, hoppers or whatever they might find hiding there. Sanderlings, in lesser numbers, were there also. These are light gray- and -white birds that we usually associate with our ocean beaches that follow the surf as it moves in and out, exposing their ever- elusive food supply. Just off shore a few feet were a dozen or so herring gulls picking up the floating eggs here and there that had not been tucked away in the sand deep enough, but then that's part of nature's abun- dance. Most will be protected for now. When the female horseshoe crab de- posited her eggs under the sand, the i walpw i wwi nwwL 75 Years Ago May 21, 1920 Girls' Conference a Success: The second annu- al High School Girls' Conference, under the direction of the YWCA, which was held in Greenport, proved to be most successful. The conference opened with a banquet at the Masonic Temple Friday evening. There were about 200 girls present. Saturday morning a vocational talk was given by Miss Mary Cady of the National Board of the YWCA and an address on "The Girl in Industry" was delivered by Miss Bertha Funcke. Saturday afternoon baseball, basket- ball and other athletics were the chief activities. 50 Years Ago May 25, 1945 Greenport Gets Yearbook: For the fast time in the history of the Greenport High School the senior class has prepared a souvenir book entitled "The Beachcomber." This book will contain pictures of the senior and other classes, faculty members, athletic teams and other pictures of school interest ... The price has been set at $1 per copy. Servicemen's Column: We received a letter from S /Sgt. Edward Zebroski, who is stationed in Wales, Eng- land. According to his letter, VE Day was the big day over there; the streets were flag - trimmed and the people enjoyed smaller males rode piggyback to fertilize them with their sperm. The eggs were then left for the days of warming sun to incubate them. Later, when the moon becomes full and the flood tides creep high above the usual high tide line, the young will burst out of their egg casings and drift away with the tide. Millions will be born, few will reach adulthood. Most will become food for the swarming multi- tude of small fish, snails, crabs and a whole line of marine creatures that make up our bay environment. While there I spotted three birds off shore and, always having binoculars at hand, focused on them. They turned out to be common loons but now they had changed from their drab winter colors to their spring plumage of flashy, speckled black and white. I was surprised to see them still around, for most of our win- tering ducks have left for their northern nesting areas. Of course, we still see the common semido- mesticated mallard around, but of the true wild ducks most have gone. In the case of loons their nesting area would probably be a lonely lake or pond where a nest at the water's edge would be built. There'd be the usual challenge for nesting sites and wild and ferocious battles would occur with little or no damage to the parties involved. Some birds and animals have their confrontations over their lady friends as do men and boys in our world, but here in the animal and bird world they seem to know when to quit and rarely do harm to each other. We could learn from them. Once the challengers are dri- ven off, courtship takes place with much display and show off. Often this activity goes on with much noise and chatter. The reason a loon builds so close to the water's edge is that it has difficulty walking on land because its feet are so far to the rear of its body. It's truly out of its element when on land and therefore you'll never see a loon on land other than when it's nesting. Let me correct that. You'll never see a loon on land unless it's nesting or if it's sick or oiled. It's then we see these pitiful crea- tures awaiting death on our beaches. Oil spills are probably one of the lead- ing causes of water- f o w l ' s demise for when the oil gets on their feathers it breaks down the natural protective waterproofing that the bird has, therefore exposing it to the cold water and it succumbs. Luckily here on our East Coast this floating disaster has become less common due to stricter environmental laws that prohibit the dis- charge of oil overboard. Yet there are a few unscrupulous people who have little regard for their actions and continue to pollute. No, the world is not a perfect place, but it's the returning cycle of the horse- shoe crabs and the changing seasons like our spring and the endless wonders of nature that give us hope that someday people will realize we are all part of the whole and therefore any action we take against the environment is an action against ourselves. There were hundreds of horse- shoe crabs scattered along the beach, trailing one, two and as many as five suitors.' a real celebration. Their commanding officers gave all the soldiers and WACs 48 -hour passes. He also writes that the people treat the American soldiers swell. He tells about going into town and how the little chil- dren have learned to say, "Any gum, chum?" 25 Years Ago May 22, 1970 Town Board Action: At Tuesday's Southold Town Board meeting, a resolution was adopted providing for the purchase of the former New York Telephone building in Cutchogue for $9,000. Located on the north side of the Main Road, the building will be used as a Town Justice Court and offices. Berks Speaks on Narcotics: Bob Berks, noted sculptor and member of the National Council of the Arts, spoke at the annual dinner meeting of the American Associ- ation of University Women Thursday evening. The way to channel the young away from narcotics is by giving them a chance to be creative, Mr. Berks said. "Everything is ready -made today for children. They have no chance to use their imagination. From this lack of oppor- tunity to stretch imagination, Mr. Berks feels, comes the desire for the illusions and the imaginings which drugs release. Blood Donors Sought RIVERHEAD —A blood drive will be sponsored by the Golden Donors and Long Island Blood Services between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, at the Riverhead Ramada Inn. Golden Donors is a group of retirees who recruit donors around major holi- days, since it has been shown that blood supplies drop sharply following holiday weekends. Donors must be between 17 and 75, in good health and weigh at least 110 pounds. Those over 75 must provide a physician's note certifying their good health. Call 800- 933 -BLOOD (2556) for de- tails..