Where to find shorebirds along New Jersey’s Delaware Bay beaches:
Click the following links to bring up Google Maps + directions for each beach. (listed from north to south)
- Money Island, Downe Township, NJ
- Gandys Beach, Downe Township, NJ
- Fortescue Beach, Downe Township, NJ
- East Point Lighthouse, Maurice River Township, NJ
- Thompsons Beach, Maurice River Township, NJ
- Moores Beach, Maurice River Township, NJ
- Reeds Beach, Middle Township, NJ
- Cooks Beach, Middle Township, NJ
- Kimbles Beach, Middle Township, NJ
- Pierces Point, Middle Township, NJ
- Highs Beach, Middle Township, NJ
- Norburys Landing, Middle Township, NJ
- Villas – Miami Beach, Lower Township, NJ
- Villas – New Jersey Ave, Lower Township, NJ
- Villas – Rose Lane, Lower Township, NJ
Migrating shorebirds need to fuel up quickly and safely in order to continue their northbound trip every year. With that in mind, it is essential that visitors and observers follow these guidelines:
- Stay within the designated viewing areas at restricted access beaches. Do not cross through temporary fencing, these areas are restricted to human activity for the duration of the stopover season.
- Study shorebirds from a distance: use binoculars or a spotting scope to get a good look without disturbing the birds.
- Keep dogs leashed at all times. Do not allow dogs to run freely around the beach as they can easily cross into restricted access areas, disturbing or potentially harming foraging shorebirds.
- Honor the requests of shorebird beach stewards and conservation officers.
- Report disturbances or illegal activity to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection at 1-877-WARN-DEP.
- Report sighted leg flag codes to bandedbirds.org. These contributions help scientists track shorebird migration patterns.
Best Times to View Spawning Horseshoe Crabs:
2025 Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Events Calendar
| Thurs 5/1-Mon 6/30 | ReTURN the Favor season begins Volunteer rescue of stranded HSCs on NJ beaches along Delaware Bay (training & pre-registration are required) |
| Sat 5/3- Sun 5/4 | Green Eggs and Sand Workshop – Horseshoe crab lesson curriculum for educators The Wetlands Institute; Stone Harbor, NJ (pre-registration required) |
| Tues 5/6 | ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – Reeds Beach North 7:30-9:30 pm Hosted by: The Wetlands Institute (pre-registration required) |
| Wed 5/7-Sat 6/7 | NJ Delaware Bay beach closures begin Many beaches along Delaware Bay in NJ closed during daylight hours for shorebird feeding |
| Thurs 5/8 | Horseshoe Crab Tagging – Thompsons Beach 7-9 PM American Littoral Society (pre-registration required) |
| Fri 5/9 | Horseshoe Crab Tagging – Cooks Beach 7:30-9:30 PM American Littoral Society (pre-registration required) |
| Sat 5/10 | World Migratory Bird Day |
| Downe Township Horseshoe Crab Festival 11 am – 4 pm State Street; Fortescue, NJ | |
| NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) | |
| Horseshoe Crab Tagging – Thompsons Beach 8:30-10:30 PM American Littoral Society (pre-registration required) | |
| Sat 5/10-Wed 5/14 | Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition – 2025 Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Initiative Coastwide presence/absence spawning survey along the entire Atlantic Coast |
| Sun 5/11- Mon 5/19 | Shorebird & Horseshoe Crab Celebration Days The Wetlands Institute; Avalon, NJ |
| Mon 5/12 | NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) |
| Horseshoe Crab Tagging – Fortescue Beach 9:15-11:15 PM American Littoral Society (pre-registration required) | |
| Wed 5/14 | NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) |
| Thurs 5/15-Sun 5/18 | Cape May Spring Festival NJ Audubon |
| Fri 5/16 | ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – Villas Beach 3-5 pm Hosted by: The Wetlands Institute (pre-registration required) |
| Sun 5/18 | ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – Pierces Point 8:00-9:30 pm Hosted by: Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ (pre-registration required) |
| Tues 5/20 | ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – Reeds Beach North 7:15 PM Hosted by: Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition (pre-registration required – info@hscrabrecovery.org) |
| ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – East Point Lighthouse 6:30-8:00 pm Hosted by: CU Maurice River (pre-registration required) | |
| Sat 5/24 | Milton Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Festival 9 am-3 pm Milton Memorial Park; Milton, DE |
| Horseshoe Crab Tagging – Fortescue Beach 7:30-9:30 PM American Littoral Society (pre-registration required) | |
| NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) | |
| Sat 5/24-Wed 5/28 | Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition – 2025 Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Initiative Coastwide presence/absence spawning survey along the entire Atlantic Coast |
| Sun 5/25 | Horseshoe Crab Tagging – Reeds Beach 8-10 PM American Littoral Society (pre-registration required) |
| Mon 5/26 | NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) |
| Tues 5/27 | Horseshoe Crab Tagging – Kimbles Beach 8 PM US Fish & Wildlife Service (pre-registration required) |
| ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – East Point Lighthouse 1:00-2:30 pm Hosted by: CU Maurice River (pre-registration required) | |
| Wed 5/28 | NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) |
| ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – Pierces Point 8:00-9:30 pm Hosted by: Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ (pre-registration required) | |
| Fri 5/30 | ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – Villas Beach 3:00-5:00 pm Hosted by: The Wetlands Institute (pre-registration required) |
| Sat 5/31 | ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – East Point Lighthouse 5:00 pm–6:30 pm Hosted by: CU Maurice River (pre-registration required) |
| Tues 6/3 | ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – East Point Lighthouse 7:00-8:30 am Hosted by: CU Maurice River (pre-registration required) |
| Thurs 6/5 | ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – Reeds Beach North 8:00-10:00 pm Hosted by: The Wetlands Institute (pre-registration required) |
| Sat 6/7 | NJ beach closures along Delaware Bay end for shorebird feeding |
| Horseshoe Crab Tagging – Cooks Beach 7-9 PM American Littoral Society (pre-registration required) | |
| Mon 6/9 | NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) |
| Tues 6/10 | Horseshoe Crab Tagging – Kimbles Beach 8 PM US Fish & Wildlife Service (pre-registration required) |
| ReTURN the Favor public horseshoe crab rescue walk – East Point Lighthouse 12:30-2:00 pm Hosted by: CU Maurice River (pre-registration required) | |
| Wed 6/11 | NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) |
| Fri 6/13 | Horseshoe Crab Tagging – Reeds Beach 11 PM-1 AM American Littoral Society (pre-registration required) |
| NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) | |
| Sat 6/14 | Sunset on the Bay 5-8 PM American Littoral Society; Fortescue Marina Beachfront (admission required) |
| Thurs 6/20 | International Horseshoe Crab Day Various activities at local county parks, libraries, universities, etc. |
| Mon 6/23 | NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) |
| Wed 6/25 | NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) |
| Fri 6/27 | NJ & DE Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Evening high tide, various beaches (pre-registration is required) |
| Mon 6/30 | ReTURN the Favor horseshoe crab season ends Public is encouraged to continue rescuing stranded horseshoe crabs |