Incredible photos of Christmas Island red crab migration

[dale]

http://www.liveinternet.ru/community/geo_club/post196888340/

The text is in Russian, but the photos speak for themselves.

[valhalla]

Saw a tv special about this years ago - fascinating -- especially for those of us with the Chesapeake Blue Claw, which can't live out of the water (long enough to take that walk).  Thanks!

[Donna]

That's one of natures most amazing!!! Everything turns RED!! Very cool dale, thanks!

[MAK]

  Red IS the best color! Thanks for sharing! 

PS

[Dot_Forrester]

Dale, that was incredible!  Here's something I found out about the migration that's pretty cool: While the rains provide the moist preconditions for the march to begin, the timing of the migration breeding sequence is also linked to the phases of the moon. Eggs are released by the female red crabs into the sea precisely at the turn of the high tide during the last lunar quarter. How they know the right time to release their eggs is another amazing miracle of nature.

Dot in PA

[valhalla]

Dale, that was incredible!  Here's something I found out about the migration that's pretty cool: While the rains provide the moist preconditions for the march to begin, the timing of the migration breeding sequence is also linked to the phases of the moon. Eggs are released by the female red crabs into the sea precisely at the turn of the high tide during the last lunar quarter. How they know the right time to release their eggs is another amazing miracle of nature.

Dot in PA

Hormones - the same reason that we follow a lunar cycle.  Those of us that a creatures of the tides (20-years on-board counts me among them) KNOW when it is slack and about to change.  You "feel" the nothingness (tidal movement is different from wave movement).  I swear that I still "feel" it.

[Carol P.]

That is incredible!  Thanks for sharing Dale!