Crab Bridge

Acrylic on panel

9″ x 12″

The first rainfall of the wet season ignites a mass migration of Christmas Island’s millions of land crabs. The fire-red crabs emerge from their forest burrows and head toward the ocean to mate and spawn. Because the crabs always spawn before dawn on a receding high-tide during the last quarter of the moon, the timing of the first rain relative to the lunar cycle determines if they amble or sprint. On their march they must pass several roads. To reduce casualties, crabs may be diverted to underground tunnels or special crab bridges.