The red knot is a long-distance migratory wader that undertakes one of the most extraordinary migrations on Earth, and its welfare at the critical Delaware Bay stopover depends on the abundance of horseshoe crab eggs that fuel the transoceanic flight.
Red knot welfare at British estuaries depends on intertidal mudflat quality and the abundance of bivalves and invertebrates in winter. The global welfare picture is more complex, with the Delaware Bay bottleneck creating a welfare vulnerability that affects the entire population. Birds that fail to acquire sufficient fuel at Delaware Bay arrive at Arctic breeding grounds in poor condition, reducing productivity. International conservation spanning three continents is required to address knot welfare effectively.