For years many have heard of the plight of the Red Knot in North America.

Because of extensive commercial harvesting of horseshoe crabs for bait in Delaware Bay, the migrating knots are losing a critical refueling spot on their trip to their breeding grounds.

The birds stop to eat the horseshoe crab eggs and fatten up to make the rest of the journey. The over harvesting leaves less food for the knots and they do not have enough fat to make the rest of their journey to their final destination.

Their population is in severe decline.

In 2000, the Red Knot population was estimated to be 400,000 birds. The current estimate is 13,000 birds.

Scientists estimate that the Red Knot in North America could be extinct as early as 2010. Conservation groups have contacted the media and unsuccessfully encouraged the federal government to list the Red Knot as endangered.