Category Archives: Beaches of the Ryukyu Islands

Giving Back 2 Nature – Earth Day 2024

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Student 2 Presenter

It was great to get back into the classroom. On April 3rd, I gave three hermit crab presentations at Ralph Stearley Primary School for science night. The kids had a lot of questions, and it was a blast!

On April 15th, I presented on Okinawa’s endangered & invasive species for AP Environmental Class at Kubasaki High School. Of course, we also spoke about hermit crab conservation. I attended Kubasaki from 1989-1992. It was a blast from the past!

On April 18th, I had a live interview on the Kelly Clarkson Show regarding Earth Day 2020. It was such a fantastic experience.

THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW — Episode 7I131 — Pictured: (l-r) — (Photo by: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal)

On April 20th, our team joined forces with Oist, Yomitan Beach Clean Network, Churamura Sea Turtle Conservation, Blue Reef Okinawa, and volunteers for a massive beach cleanup in Onna Village. Go Team Okinawa!

Please help me make a difference by supporting The MST4N Hermit Crab Conservation Project. Check out my Patreon page, MakeTheSwitch4Nature. For every supporting member, I will collect a bucket full of marine debris. Our waste is a massive problem on our beautiful shorelines.

Do you have any seashells collecting dust at home? If so, consider giving them back two nature.

  • The Mission of the #MTS4N conservation project is to spread joy, inspire change and save lives.

Click on the donation link below to help fund Shawn’s conservation projects.


Okinawa’s First Annual Sea Turtle Festival

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The Okinawa Sea Turtle Festival is on October 21st at Zanpa Beach. The Churamura Okinawa Sea-Turtle conservation organization hosts this fantastic event. Please join the fun. The event will start at 11:00 a.m.

All kinds of fun events for the kids to enjoy.

Give back to nature at the Hermit Crab Conservation Workshop, which starts at 16:00.

Shawn Miller created Make the Switch 4 Nature to spread joy + inspire change + save lives. His photography documenting hermit crabs adapting with plastics has been featured in National Geographic Magazine & inspired thousands to #TakeTrashNotHomes.

SHELL DONATION DRIVE: Do you have unwanted shells at home? Bring them to the Sea Turtle Festival and drop them off at Shawn’s MTS4N booth on October 21st from 1100-1700 on Zanpa Beach. The Okinawa Sea Turtle Festival is FREE, but donations to support Shawn’s work are appreciated.

Learn more about Churamura and the fantastic work they are doing!

I hope to see you there, and have a fabulous day!

World Oceans Day 2022

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June 8th, 2009, was designated by the United Nations as World Oceans Day. This year will mark the fourteen-year. It’s a day encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. We can all do a better job making a difference, and our lives depend on it.

The World Oceans Day theme is Revitalization. Collective action for the ocean. What will you do to make a difference on June 8th? Here’s my plan!

  • Donate fourteen dollars to Oceanic Global
  • Pick up fourteen pieces of beach trash.
  • Custom carve a #Mts4n 603 shell for Ocean Day 2022
  • Place fourteen empty shells in the coastal forest for hermit crabs in need
  • Spread the word! #revitalization

Keila Gaballo created this beautiful art piece to honor and celebrate World Oceans Day. It was inspired by one of my #mts4n hermit crab photographs. Check out her website

I will place fourteen shells in the coastal forest for hermit crabs in need. I often find hermit crabs adapting with single-use plastic. Shell over-collecting is a huge problem in Okinawa.


If you would like to support Hermit Crab Conservation please check out my Patreon page. MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Learn more about making a difference, TEDx talk | Adapting to or Changing Environment by Shawn M Miller

Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for future generations

Earth Day 2022 Invest In Our Planet

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As you can see our trash is a serious problem on our shorelines. Some organizations are doing great things to make a difference but its’ not enough. We must all work together worldwide to make a positive impact.

We all have the ability to make a difference by reducing the amount of single-use items we use daily. Change can be difficult but I challenge you to Make The Switch for Nature 

The Earth Day 2022 theme is Invest In our planet. What will you do to make a difference on April 22nd? Below is my Earth Day Challenge

  • Place twenty-two #mts4n shells in the coastal forest
  • Pick up twenty-two pieces of beach trash
  • Donate twenty-two dollars to Earthday.org
  • Donate twenty-two dollars to Oceanconservancy.org
  • Go on a nature walk for twenty-two minutes
  • Twenty-two-hour intermittent fasting challenge

These are the twenty-two #mts4n shells that will be placed in the coastal forest for hermit crabs in need. I often find hermit crabs adapting with single-use plastic. Shell over-collecting is a huge problem in Okinawa.

I recommend participating in a beach cleanup. Get outdoors for some nature therapy!

Not all marine debris washes ashore. It’s important to participate in underwater cleanups as well.

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to make a positive change for Earth Day 2022. Have an awesome day!

If you would like to support Hermit Crab Conservation please check out my Patreon page. MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Learn more about making a difference, TEDx talk | Adapting to or Changing Environment by Shawn M Miller

Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for future generations

Please consider making a small donation to support my mission.

Get Fa-Millerized with the Nature of the Ryukyu Islands  – – – –  SUBSCRIBE BELOW

MTS4N 393 To Eat Flowers -Trading Plastic 4 Shells

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Meet Fragile Francis, A blueberry hermit crab found adapting with a discarded plastic cap.

The hermit crab was offered an assortment of shells. Fragile Francis made the switch into the donated seashell ” MTS4N 393 To Eat Flowers ”

I photographed the shy hermit crab in its new home, then released it back into the wild. Happy Crab – Happy Home!

I now keep all the twist top caps that were used by hermit crabs. I currently have 106 caps that have been traded for shells ( #MTS4N Trading Plastic 4 Shells Collection )

As you can see our trash is a serious problem on our shorelines. Some organizations are doing great things making a difference but it’s not enough, We must all work together worldwide and attack this problem. We all have the ability to make a difference by reducing the amount of single-use items we use daily. Change can be difficult but I challenge you to make the switch 4 nature.

Would you like to give back to nature? Consider making a contribution to support my mission in Hermit Crab Conservation MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Thank you Hannah Reyes for your support and carving suggestion, Check out her stunning photography on Instagram.

Listen to podcast 753 Interview, discussing the hermit crab conservation project. Martin Bailey Photography

Do you have any seashells collecting dust at home? if so, consider donating them to the #MTS4N Project

Have an Awesome day! Shawn Miller

It Will Get Better Mts4n #412 – Trading plastic 4 Shells

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Meet Mustard, A blueberry hermit crab found adapting with a discarded marker cap.

A friend called to inform me she found a hermit crab ( mustard ) adapting with plastic. I grabbed some empty shells, the #mts4n bucket and drove down to a local beach in Yomitan village. We placed Mustard into the bucket and within fifteen minutes he made the switch.

Mustard made the switch into donated shell ” MTS4N #412 It will get better ” which is part of the positive carving series.

I photographed the hermit crab in its new home, then released it back into the wild. Happy Crab-Happy Home!

I keep all the twist top caps that were used by hermit crabs. I currently have 105 caps that have been traded for shells.

hermit crabs plastic cap collection

As you can see our trash is a serious problem on our shorelines. Some organizations are doing great things making a difference but it’s not enough, We must all work together worldwide and attack this problem. We all have the ability to make a difference by reducing the amount of single-use items we use daily. Change can be difficult but I challenge you to make the switch 4 nature.


Would you like to give back to nature? Consider making a contribution to support my mission in Hermit Crab Conservation MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Listen to podcast 753 Interview, discussing the hermit crab conservation project. Martin Bailey Photography

Do you have any seashells collecting dust at home? if so, consider donating them to the #MTS4N Project.

Have a great day! Shawn Miller

MTS4N 434 So Shire – Trading plastic 4 Shells

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Meet Brittle Bob, A blueberry hermit crab found adapting with a discarded plastic twist top cap.

Crabs with plastic homes

The hermit crab was offered an assortment of shells. Brittle Bob made the switch into the donated seashell ” So Shire MTS4N 434 ”

I photographed the shy hermit crab in its new home, then released it back into the wild. Happy Crab – Happy Home!

I now keep all the twist top caps that were used by hermit crabs. I currently have 105 caps that have been traded for shells ( #MTS4N Collection )

As you can see our trash is a serious problem on our shorelines. Some organizations are doing great things making a difference but it’s not enough, We must all work together worldwide and attack this problem. We all have the ability to make a difference by reducing the amount of single-use items we use daily. Change can be difficult but I challenge you to make the switch 4 nature.

Okinawa beach trash

Interview with Kelly Meyer – Hermit Crab Conservation Project, Okinawa

Would you like to give back to nature? Consider making a contribution to support my mission in Hermit Crab Conservation MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Listen to podcast 753 Interview, discussing the hermit crab conservation project. Martin Bailey Photography

Thank you So Shire for your support, You are doing great providing sustainable options and Protecting Our Oceans. Keep up the Great work!

Do you have any seashells collecting dust at home? if so, consider donating them to the #MTS4N Project, Have a great day!

Hermit crabs living in plastic tubes by Shawn Miller

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One of my favorite things to do is to go beachcombing after typhoons.  Over the years, I have seen a significant increase in the amount of marine debris washed ashore.  The trash is from all over the world, but the majority of it washes up from Korea, China, and Japan

The resourceful hermit crabs take full advantage of plastic tubes and twist top caps. They move into this valuable real estate and use it as a protective mobile home until they find a better option.

Hermit Crabs prefer to live in a natural seashell. Due to a decline in the number of seashells, the hermit crabs have to adapt with our trash to survive. Below are photographs of hermit crabs found naturally adapting with the plastic tubing.

Lucky was the first hermit crab I photographed adapting with plastic tubing. (2014)

The long plastic tubing slows down their movement. Not the ideal mobile home for a hermit crab.

Sometimes I find them living in clear plastic. Over time the plastic turns yellow and becomes brittle. Eventually, it will break up into microplastic.


Every hermit crab found adapting with our waste receives a new home (seashell). I bring a bucket with an assortment of shells with me on my beach hikes. The hermit crabs are placed in the bucket and make the switch. They get a better home and I keep the plastic.

Make the switch for nature

I was surprised to find this small blueberry hermit crab using a jump rope handle as a mobile home. The crab switched into a tapestry turban shell (mts4n #29) immediately.

The hermit crab is one of the few animals that can successfully adapt with our waste. If you would like to learn more about hermit crabs adapting with our waste please check out my post on “Crabs With Beach Trash Homes” by Shawn M Miller.

This post is not to make people sad, guilty, or lose hope, It is to bring awareness to the ongoing trash problem in our oceans and on our shorelines. Hopefully, these images will inspire people to change.

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands. – If you would like to join my journey, check out my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bringing solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

The Shorelines of Iheya Island Turn Red

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Mass coral spawning took place this weekend on Izena, Iheya and Noho Island. I have been waiting a very long time to see this natural wonder.

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Coral spawn slick

Coral spawning takes place late at night during high tide. When many species of coral spawn on the same night it naturally forms a mass of gametes know as a coral spawn slick. These coral slicks eventually wash ashore the next morning. These brightly colored coral slicks give off a very strong odor that will stick in my memory forever. 

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Coral spawn slick

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Coral spawn slick art

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Iheya beach – RW&B

While exploring the island we stumbled upon more bright coral slicks. We often explored beaches polluted with single use waste. As you can see our trash is a series problem in our oceans and the shorelines worldwide.

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Coral spawn slick and trash

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Pink Coral spawn slick

Look close and you can see single-use waste and micro plastic floating on the surface of the water

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Coral colored spawn slick

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Red coral splash

Noho Island had a thick smelling coral slick at the local fishing port.  A group of locals showed up to go swimming but immediately decided it was a bad idea and went to another location.

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Noho – Fishing port

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Coral spawn slick washed up

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Noho fishing port

Learn more about making a difference, TEDx talk | Adapting to or Changing Environment by Shawn M Miller

 My Mission: To document and preserve the wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically  to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support.  Shawn M Miller.