Spring Shorebird & Horseshoe Crab Festival at the Wetlands is May 19-20

  1. Photo courtesy of The Wetlands Institute

The Wetlands Institute is pleased to announce our 6th Annual Spring Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Festival, a weekend packed with conservation-based, hands-on, interactive activities for all ages.

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 Delaware Bay to lay their eggs, while thousands of shorebirds time a stop on their northbound spring migration route to feed on these energy-packed eggs. Our shores host the largest concentration of spawning horseshoe crabs in their range, and the shorebird migration is one of the last great migrations on Earth. What an amazing front row view of these spectacular wildlife events we have, and it can be seen right here in Cape May.

Come join The Wetlands Institute for a festival that celebrates this amazing spectacle of nature – the shorebird migration and horseshoe crab spawning season. Guests of all ages can enjoy a variety of conservation-based activities including guided shorebird viewings; horseshoe crab workshops; horseshoe crab spawning survey demonstrations and Return the Favor walks; aquarium teaching tank and aquaculture tours; naturalist-led Salt Marsh Trail walks; and other hands-on education and conservation-based activities.

The event takes place Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A two-day ticket costs $15 for adult non-members, $10 for child non-members, $13 for adult members and $8 for child members. A one-day ticket costs $10 for adult non-members, $8 for child non-members, $30 for non-member family 4-pack, $8 for adult members, $6 for child members and $25 for member family 4-pack.

Proceeds from the event will help support The Wetlands Institute’s conservation and education programs focused on shorebird and horseshoe crab conservation.

The Wetlands Institute is located at 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd., Stone Harbor. For more information, visit www.wetlandsinstitute.org.