During the month of May, crabs arrive on Delaware' s beaches to lay eggs  Certain shorebirds depend on these eggs for food during their annual spring migration to their northern breeding grounds  Delaware' s crab population has declined recently
This decline, however, poses no serious threat to the migrating shorebird populations: by remaining longer in Delaware, the birds will be able to eat enough crab eggs to allow them to complete their migration
The earlier in the season the shorebirds complete their migration, the more likely they are to breed successfully.