Sea Turtle Walk

June 30, 2005
Above: Joanna Taylor displays a loggerhead sea turtle skull and a conch shell, the inhabitant of which is a favorite food of the loggerhead.
Members of the Pelican Island Audubon Society look on as Refuge Ranger Joanna Taylor of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge gives a presentation on sea turtles prior to the turtle walk. Archie Carr NWR is North America's #1 destination for nesting loggerhead sea turtles. Learn more about the Archie Carr NWR.
An informative and fun presentation on sea turtles, their lives, and the dangers they face, especially the loggerhead, engages the audience and prepares them for what they will see on the beach.
An important contributor to the walk is the turtle scout who will find the turtle the group will observe. The scout will locate a nesting loggerhead somewhere in the Refuge and radio in its location. Pictured at left is Scott, a volunteer turtle scout, waiting to head out to the beach to start searching.
Products made from sea turtles are illegal to possess, sell, and transport. A display of confiscated items shown during the presentation include (left to right): turtle soup, a green sea turtle shell, a stuffed hawksbill turtle, a tortoise shell bracelet made from a hawksbill's shell, a boot made from loggerhead skin, and lotion made with the oil from sea turtles. Learn more about Federal Wildlife Laws.
A few stars are visible through partially cloudy skies as the group watches a loggerhead sea turtle lay her eggs. A red light is used to reduce disturbance to the nesting female and to not discourage other females from coming out onto the beach to nest.
The back of the loggerhead and part of her rear flippers are visible as she covers her nest with sand after laying 80-120 ping-pong ball sized eggs before heading back into the ocean. Most likely this loggerhead will lay several more nests this year then take a break of 2-3 years before returning to nest again at Archie Carr NWR.
Images & text by Bob Montanaro & Joanna Taylor.
 
 
All images and text copyright Pelican Island Audubon Society.
E-mail: piaudubon@bellsouth.net