Scarlet Sky and Blue Blood documentary...

If you didn't come to the showing of Ben Clock's documentary, you missed a great  opportunity to learn more about the plight of the Red Knot and Horseshoe crab and both of their struggles for survival.

Ben is a biologist, photographer, and videographer, and  worked for 6 years to bring this project to fruition. During the course of filming he worked with many locally known biologists and attorneys to produce his conservation documentary that shows the integral link between Red Knots and the spawning of the Horseshoe Crab.

During the spring migration, Red Knots fly from as far away as the very tip of South America, and join other groups of migrating Red Knots to stop in the southeastern US to refuel on their way to their breeding grounds in the far north of Canada.

Their visit to the southeastern US coincides with the spawning of the Horseshoe Crab. However, due to the collection of the blue blood of the Horseshoe Crab during the spawning season by the biomedical industry, there have been fewer and fewer Horseshoe crabs to spawn, affecting the population of the migrating Red Knots.

Ben's documentary highlights the plight of both species, and one can't help to understand that to save the Horseshoe Crab is to save both!

The work of the Southern Environmental Law Center has been integral in helping to protect the Horseshoe Crab and just last year a settlement was reached that for the next 5 years:
prohibits horseshoe crab collection on the beaches of over 30 islands across the South Carolina coast that are established feeding sites for Red Knots during their annual migration;
continues the prohibition on harvesting anywhere in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge;
and prohibits the placement of female horseshoe crabs in holding ponds so they continue to spawn on South Carolina beaches and red knots can access horseshoe crab eggs.

The CMNA was very fortunate to be able to provide its members and friends with a free showing of Ben's documentary thanks to the hard work and persistence of our Events Chair, Nicki Turano.

Of course, there are others to thank, too, in bringing this event together. Stephanie Cantle for helping Nicki, Judy Fairchild for providing Ben with a home for a few days, Laura Lovins for being Ben's driver and ensuring he was where he needed to be when he needed to be there, Allyssa Zebrowski for leading the proceedings on the day, Kristina Wheeler for conducting a very warm outdoor nature ramble and Colin Hocking for making sure the location was booked and sound was heard during the show!

Finally, but not least, to Tricia Midgett, Ranger, for allowing us the use of the Sewee Visitor Center so we could put this whole thing on in the comfort of their auditorium.

And of course, thanks to Ben for such an educational and inspiring piece of work and for sharing it with us!