I am thrilled to be a speaker at this year’s Crab Con. This will be my third consecutive year presenting on the fascinating topic of hermit crabs.
I appreciate your support, Shawn.
Category Archives: Conservation Photography by Shawn Miller
Giving Back 2 Nature – Earth Day 2024
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.
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
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 2023
Happy World Oceans Day!
Join us at the Okuma Beach Clean-Up this Saturday, 10 June 2023. Stop by the outside patio at the Surfside Grill & Bar to pick up trash bags and gloves. Afterward, join us as Shawn Miller, a nature and wildlife photographer, discusses Okinawa’s biodiversity and answers questions about wildlife and conservation photography.
Have a wonderful day, and see you Saturday!
The Fire Beneath The East China Sea
What a fantastic surprise! This month we received the paratype of Calliostoma shawni ( Poppe & Tagarao, 2020), A beautiful species found in the waters of Okinawa. This rare species is named after naturalist and underwater photographer Shawn Miller for his continued support of malacological research.
Calliostoma shawni is found at night feeding on fire coral (Millepora sp).
The average size of this beauty is 7mm-13mm.
During the day, it hides in the tiny crevices of the fire coral.
Interested in seeing this species in its natural habitat? Let me know, and I can show you.
If you would like to learn more about this species, check out Visaya Vol 5 Nov 4 -September 2020
Do you like seashells? Learn more about the gastropods of Okinawa @ okinawanaturephotography.com/seashells-of-okinawa/
Have a wonderful day!
Invest In Our Planet | Earth Day 2023
We all can 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 2023 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-three #mts4n shells in the coastal forest
- Pick up twenty-three pieces of beach trash
- Volunteer at a local elementary school
- Give two coastal forest conservation presentations
- Spread the word #taketrashnothomes
On June tenth, I will give an Okinawan wildlife presentation at Okuma beach resort. Please join the fun!
Hopefully, this post will inspire you to make a positive change for Earth Day 2023.
Support the #MTS4n Hermit Crab Conservation Project; 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
Get Fa-Millerized with the Nature of the Ryukyu Islands – – – – SUBSCRIBE BELOW
Earth Day 2022 Invest In Our Planet
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
I found a MTS4N seashell on Okinawa. What should I do?
Featured
So far, I have placed over seven hundred marked turbo seashells in the coastal forest for hermit crabs in need. The shells are marked and numbered with the hashtag #mts4n ( Make The Switch For Nature ). Hopefully, labeling the surface of the seashells will prevent poachers, beachcombers, and anglers from taking them.
Hermit crabs are a national living monument species of Japan. Collecting them is against the law. Take photos only!
What to do if you find a #MTS4N or #MILLER shell:
- Take a photograph of the Hermit crab in its natural habitat
- Enjoy the moment and do not harass it
- Share on social media and tag #mts4n
- These occupied shells are not collectibles; do not take them
The Mission of the Make the Switch 4 Nature (MTS4N) Hermit Crab Conservation project is to spread joy, inspire change, and save lives
What to do if you find a hermit crab adapting with plastic
- Take a photograph of the hermit crab in its original habitat
- Leave the hermit crab alone and do not harass it
- Send me a DM with the exact beach location
- I will place empty shells in the coastal forest for the hermit crabs
Have you ever taken an empty seashell from the beach? I am guilty. Most people don’t realize that they are taking the potential home of a hermit crab.
Did you know that hermit crabs are not born with shells?
As hermit crabs grow, they depend on various empty shells as their homes. Hermit crabs do not make their own shells; instead, they use discarded shells from marine snails that wash ashore. They also adapt by using land snail shells found in the coastal forest. If you are a shell collector, please return all unwanted shells to the coastline. #taketrashnothomes
It’s crucial to protect these beautiful creatures for future generations. Hermit crabs play an essential role in the coastal ecosystem. Hermit crabs do not belong in cages; please leave them in their natural habitat.
2024 has been a busy year for hermit crab poaching. In April and May, we found many traps in the coastal forest. If you see any suspicious activity, please call the local police.
Hermit crabs do not belong in a cage. Let’s keep wild crabs wild.
Please help me make a difference by supporting the #MST4N Hermit Crab Conservation Project. Please check out my Patreon page, MakeTheSwitch4Nature. I will collect a bucket full of marine debris for every supporting member. 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 to nature. #taktrashnothomes
- 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.
MTS4N 391 – Trading plastic 4 shells by Shawn Miller
Meet Jet Black, A blueberry hermit crab found adapting with a discarded plastic twist top cap.
The hermit crab was offered an assortment of shells. Jet Black made the switch into the donated seashell ” MTS4N 391 LIZA N MAGS OCEANBNB ”
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 107 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.
Thank you Steven David Johnson for your support, Check out his stunning conservation photography.
Listen to podcast 753 Interview, discussing the hermit crab conservation project. Martin Bailey Photography
Would you like to give back to nature? Consider making a contribution to support my mission in Hermit Crab Conservation MakeTheSwitch4Nature
Do you have any seashells collecting dust at home? if so, consider donating them to the #MTS4N Project
Please consider making a small donation to support my mission
Have an awesome day! Shawn Miller
MTS4N 393 To Eat Flowers -Trading Plastic 4 Shells
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