Google’s Street View Trekker has enabled not only directions to remote places unreached by camera cars, it’s also enabled migration studies around the world—and this year it’s been scuttling around Australia’s Christmas Island, following a migration of red crabs.
The bright red crabs, some 45 million of them, spend most of the year burrowed into moist ground in the island’s tropical forests. But once a year, they break out and head for the sea to spawn—a bit like humans on Spring Break.
This year, Dr. Alasdair Grigg, of Parks Australia, is following them with the Google Trekker to record the trip, which begins when the moon, rains and tides are perfectly aligned…a moment known only to the crabs. Right now, they are on the march, followed by Dr. Grigg; it’s expected that the biggest spawning day will be Dec. 13th. The finished trek will be available through Street View.
Speaking of streets: on Christmas Island, the crabs have the right of way, and can severely crowd roads, boardwalks and beaches. Parks Australia has built an elaborate set of walls and fences along the roadways to direct them to safe crossing points.
