THIRD ANNUAL HORSESHOE CRAB FESTIVAL AT JAMAICA BAY

Participant Holding Horseshoe Crab at 2017 Horseshoe Crab Festival at Jamaica Bay
© Camilla Cerea / Audubon

Sunday, May 19, 2019, 8:30am-2pm
With American Littoral Society, Gateway National Recreation Area

Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center for a day of celebrating the annual arrival of horseshoe crabs to our local shores. During the full and new moons of May and June, these prehistoric animals, which date back approximately 400 million years, come ashore to mate. The females lay billions of eggs at the high tide line each season. At the same time, thousands of migrating shorebirds arrive in the northeast bays to feed on the eggs, regaining the body weight they lost during their long journey north. At the festival you’ll see and hold live horseshoe crabs and learn about their important ecological and medicinal values. For more information on the festival, contact the American Littoral Society at 718-474-0896 or email Don Riepe at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The program is free, but suggested donations of $20 for adults and $10 for children to NYC Audubon are suggested to offset the festival cost. No registration required. To inquire about van transportation from Manhattan, call NYC Audubon at 212-691-7483 x304.

The Horseshoe Crab Festival at Jamaica Bay is a NYC Audubon partnership program with American Littoral Society and Gateway National Recreation Area.