Meet Red Knot: A bird that loves travelling 

Birds have not only been a delight for people who love them. They have been part of our lives in more ways than one. So, you don't see them only in the sky. They are there in our flags, logos, stamps, product labels and more. Migratory birds have also held a very important place in many societies and cultures. In Europe, their return signifies the beginning of spring. Also, their behaviours send crucial clues to weather forecasters. Today, we are going to introduce you to a bird species, known for its surprisingly long aviation journeys. Do you know who we are talking about? A species named Red Knots. These Arctic inhabitants, covered in terracotta orange feathers, take on a 9,300-mile-long flight. Apart from this, Red Knots are often in the spotlight for another reason: Their dependence on horseshoe crabs that are heavily harvested for human consumption. Let’s find out why they travel so far and other amazing facts about Red Knots! 

Masters in long-distance aviation 
Red Knots are masters of long-distance aviation. These birds have a wingspan of just 20 inches, but they sure travel a lot! They fly from the Arctic to the coasts of South America and back to the north during breeding season. They plan their journeys in such a way that there is plenty of time to rest and refuel. Birds often migrate from one place to another in search of food. Some even cross countries and oceans and reach faraway lands to avoid the harsh weather of their location. Once they are fuelled up in the arctic, they start their journey towards South America. Here they spend their winters, escaping the harsh one in Arctic.  

Once winter is over, they head back to the Arctic for the breeding season. As the journey is long, the birds make a stop at Bahía de San Antonio, a beach in Argentina. Here, they feed and rest before setting out on an 8,000km non-stop flight to North America. This stop in Argentina is the most important one as it helps them fuel up before their journey back. However, this pit stop is becoming more and more crowded because of holiday visitors. Because of this, fewer Red Knots stop here, and thus, fewer reach North America.  

Red Knots reach their destinations with half their body weight!  
The long migration takes a toll on their bodies. The Red Knots take one of the longest migration trips in the animal kingdom. The sheer distance of the journey demands for two to three stopovers just so the birds can refuel. The Delaware Bay of North America is the final and most critical rest stop for these migratory birds. 

During May and June each year, lacs of horseshoe crabs emerge from the bay on the shores to spawn along the beach. Red knots love the masses of tiny, green horseshoe crab eggs! They descend on the area and gorge themselves on these eggs for nearly a month in preparation of their remaining flight to the Arctic.  

Feeding these horseshoe crabs is essential for the survival of the birds. In fact, when the birds arrive at Delaware bay, they are half their body weight, devoid of fats and some muscles! Here, the Red Knots feed to put on some weight to double up so that they can continue their journey towards their breeding grounds of Arctic.  

Red Knots declined rapidly in the early 2000s 
Horseshoe crabs are an important part of the diet of a Red Knot. However, during the early 2000s, there was a sudden decline in the population of Red Knots because of the overharvesting of horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay. Following the sharp decline in the population of Red Knots, horseshoe crab harvesting was controlled with the help of an organization called Nature Conservancy.   

Red Knot Fact file 

• These birds usually eat seafood, mussels, clams, and love horseshoe crab eggs.   
• They look a lot like shorebirds and only experienced bird watchers might notice the difference between them. 
• They build their eggs in nests during the short Arctic summer.