tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39784936058708905372024-03-13T08:01:31.818-07:00The Traveling Turtle Girl Kirsten DahlenKirsten Dahlen passed away unexpectedly on December 9. Details can be found below.
Kirsten was a marine biologist, environmental educator, author, photographer and intrepid traveler who was always seeking new adventures. Her writing echoes the many paths she walked, from the Head Hunters Trail in Malaysian Borneo to the white sands of Antigua’s 365 beaches. While she called the US home, it was hard to predict where she actually was.Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-24051656120043724712009-12-09T11:31:00.000-08:002009-12-09T11:41:30.190-08:00Gulf Island National SeashoreThank you to DJ for letting us know when she saw Kirsten on t.v. a few months ago. WSRE in Pensacola produced a documentary: Gulf Islands National Seashore: The Treasure of the Gulf Coast that includes footage of Kirsten. I haven't yet seen the documentary but according to the producer, the documentary was dedicated to Kirsten's memory. The dvd should be available through the WSRE website by December 15th.<br /><br />The remembrances we still receive a year later are a testament to Kirsten's great fortune in both friends and followers. Thank you for carrying on her work and helping to protect these beautiful creatures that she loved so well.Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-67093885873182653742009-01-31T19:12:00.001-08:002009-05-07T21:07:16.876-07:00memories on kd's birthdayyesterday, we attended a mass in memory of kirsten on what would have been her birthday. it seems there are still loads of people just learning of her death, and coming here to find out more. that said, we'll continue to add things from time to time. for now, here's a link to a news report on turtle projects on pensacola beach, florida. kirsten was totally unprepared for this interview from summer 2008, but i think she did a marvelous job, and reached a broad audience. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=535786152&share_id=44542416267#s44542416267">click here</a><br /><br />also, kirsten had almost 900 friends on the social networking site 'facebook'. the description she wrote of herself reflects so many qualities that i admired in her... thought i'd share. (in her own words)<br /><br />For those who are interested, this is who I am:<br /><br />I am a sea turtle girl. My passion in life is to protect these animals and their habitats which, in turn, protects all life as we know it. We rely on the same resources -- the sun to heat the earth, the rain for fresh water, the ocean to evaporate and create rain, the seasons, the seas, the coral reefs and rain forests, the beaches and rivers and streams -- we are all truly interconnected.<br /><br />I can be a serious girl. I can study, learn and grow. <br /><br />More often, I am a silly girl. <br /><br />I carry bubbles in my car. <br /><br />I chase butterflies. <br /><br />I believe there is a pot of gold at the rainbow's end. <br /><br />I believe I can see myself reflected in the eyes of everyone I meet -- that there truly is no 'other' -- we're all too connected by similarities to be divided by any detail. <br /><br />I believe there is goodness and light in everyone. Yes, EVERYONE.<br /><br />I wish on falling stars and dropped eyelashes.<br /><br />I believe it IS possible to have peace in our time.<br /><br />I am happily naive... and will continue to be so.<br /><br />I read children's books.<br /><br />I make sand angels at work some days.<br /><br />I find faeries, butterflies and birds in a cloud-ridden sky.<br /><br />I wish to be a dolphin while watching a pod frolic in the waves. <br /><br />I throw my arms back on a warm afternoon and try to embrace the sunshine.<br /><br />I have been known to actually hug a tree. Really.<br /><br />I build sand castles.<br /><br />I twirl on a lonely beach when my favorite song comes on my ipod. <br /><br />I twirl on a polished oak floor just because I can. <br /><br />I'll skate on that same floor in socks. No one ever sees me do these things...<br /><br />I giggle when watching plover chicks somersault after tripping on their newly hatched feet.<br /><br />I drink hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows and eat popcorn at the movies. <br /><br />I love my friends and family fiercely, no matter what. They may not always know that, or see it evident in my words and actions.<br /><br />I am lonely in a crowded room, and crowded alone with my own thoughts. <br /><br />I am loyal, kind, independent, compassionate, eccentric, intelligent and very often, scared. <br /><br />I love and trust too easily and hurt far too deeply.<br /><br />I love sunrise, a cup of chamomile tea (it's sunshine and honey in a mug!), fresh cilantro, music, and my nephews.<br /><br />The sounds of shushing waves, the wind scratching the palms and a chuck-will-widow calling let me know I am home. <br /><br />My greatest joy comes from sharing the things I love most with someone else. There's nothing quite like introducing someone to their first sea turtle hatchlings, their first ocean, their first coral reef. The gift really is more mine than theirs, and I am ever grateful. <br /><br />I know I have found my place in this world -- I am a voice for the wordless sea. I am a champion of the under water world. I am a siren on an earth island, singing my song of the deep blue beyond.<br /><br />I am inspired by light, laughter & love.<br /><br />I am happy, joyous and free :)<br /><br />I believe dreams do come true -- every single day..Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-80548255862542022122008-12-14T15:22:00.001-08:002008-12-14T15:53:22.335-08:00I Would Rather Be Ashes Than Dust...A EulogyBy request, here is the full text of the eulogy delivered by Sean at Kirsten's funeral. Please feel free to share it with anyone who may have missed the service. The family has endured this past week through support from so many friends and relatives. Your intentions, and your efforts are appreciated more than we could express. Thank you all.<br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />I would rather be ashes than dust! <br />I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. <br />I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. <br />The function of man is to live, not to exist. <br />I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. <br />I shall use my time. <br /><br />I found this quote from Jack London on Kirsten’s website. It speaks to a place in all of us – a place of real strength and passion. It calls us to be present, and to act! It reminds us to keep the spark of life burning brightly. My sister, like my father before her, shined so brightly. They both possessed a powerful intellect that is unmatched in my experience. Kirsten’s burned with such intensity that it reached around the globe. But the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long.<br /><br />There is a natural period of grief we all must endure as we let go of a daughter, a sister, a friend. I personally have been crushed by waves of emotion all week as I sort through all she left behind. I appreciate the tears. They remind me how much Kirsten means to me. They keep me present, and force me to evaluate what is truly important in life. I do feel a sense of loss, but I’m not willing to indulge despair. Kirsten has already found peace. Now I must surrender to what is, and just let her go to find my own. I am not here to mourn the loss of Kirsten. I’m here to celebrate the blessing of her presence in of our lives.<br /><br />I had the unique opportunity to join Kirsten at work one day on the beach in Florida. We had coffee, breakfast, and arrived on the beach well before dawn. We spent the day scouring a 10-mile beach of white sand looking for white eggs the size of a quarter. She could spot them from a moving ATV, while I could hardly see the small birds who gathered nearby, indicating their location. She was incredibly sensitive to her surroundings which allowed her to be of great service in her work. <br /><br />More than any other animal, Kirsten fought to protect the turtle. To her, it represented the bridge between land and sea, relying on both for its survival. This sensitive creature, vulnerable to forces on both land and sea, was, to Kirsten, the canary in the global coal mine. Kirsten studied, traveled, educated the public, accepted awkward living conditions, and even broke laws to ensure this majestic creature’s survival. <br /><br />Like the turtle, Kirsten was timid and fragile beneath her thick protective shell. The same sensitivity that helped her excel in her work also created much pain in her personal life. If there is any tragedy to be found in her life, it is this: she often failed to give herself the same unconditional love that so easily flowed through her work. <br /><br />It seems to me that Kirsten was at home out in the world, easily thriving outside her shell. While away, she developed a power that she rarely displayed at home. In her travels, she seemed to grow larger. Through service she found her power. She simply shined when her work inspired her. Anyone that saw her at work saw the selfless efforts of a true custodian to Mother Earth. Her conservation work kept her spark burning, and when it was lit, she was immense. Peter witnessed this on a visit to Jekyll Island, GA. Mom saw it on Antigua. And I saw it full-force on our travels through Malaysia. When she was in her element, she attracted to her all kinds of unique life experiences. For example, she told me once that she received 6 marriage proposals in one day while working in Barbados. This is hard to believe at first, but having glimpsed her world once or twice, I’d believe almost anything.<br /><br />Still, at home, she did come down to earth from time to time, and had a spontaneous, wacky sense of humor. She had a wonderfully endearing soft side that was perhaps best known by my sister Megh, and her family, Tom and Gabriel. When she wasn’t eating movie popcorn, she also made some world-class southwestern food. Before this week, I knew her mostly through family. As the responses come in from friends near and far, I’m delighted to see she had such far-reaching positive influence. <br /><br />Just two weeks ago, we gathered to welcome my beautiful nephew, Sebastian to the family. Now here we are to bid farewell to Kirsten. Although the tone of these two events is vastly different, the circle of life is now complete. Birth and death are but two ends to a life, equal in value, and equal in joy. They cannot exist without each other. Death is the one certainty that we all face. We deny it at our own peril. Better to embrace the truth of our mortality, allow peace to find us here and now, and live without fear. For fear and worry only waste what life we are given.<br /><br />Who’s to say that Kirsten’s was an untimely death? We are but players on the stage, and we lack the director’s broad perspective. Sure there are some questions left unanswered, but there are forces at work that exist beyond our control. Who knows what will unfold in time? <br /><br />I believe every morning you wake up, you’ve been blessed with a gift. What you do with that gift is entirely in your hands. The fruits of our labors may never be seen. But that’s no reason to stop believing our highest ideal, and working to make it real. Whatever you feed will grow. Kirsten’s work in raising awareness planted so many seeds, which even now are nurtured through people reading her work, and contributions aimed at continuing it. Now, the torch, it seems, has been passed…<br /><br />“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” These words from Mahatma Gandhi were written at the end of every email I ever received from my sister. More than anyone I know, she embodied this message. At a young age, she found her passion, and had the courage to allow it to direct her life, often sacrificing personal comforts and worldly success to win small battles on a beach you never heard of. She will always remain to me an example of living your truth, and being the change you wish to see.<br /><br />Kirsten squeezed a lot of life into her short years. <br />She will be missed. <br /><br />Thank you all for coming to celebrate her memory.Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-58147179567934742062008-12-12T12:20:00.000-08:002008-12-12T12:39:15.620-08:00memorial contributions for Kirstenwhile we have mentioned various foundations and websites regarding memorial contributions in Kirsten's name, we would like to suggest a <a href="http://barrierislandgirl.blogspot.com/2008/12/memorial-being-established-for-kirsten.html">specific conservation fund</a> that has just been established by the Department of Interior's Gulf Islands National Seashore. this is the conservation group that Kirsten has worked with most recently and was very close to her heart.<br /><br />please follow the link below to get specific information regarding the newly established foundation.<br /><br />http://barrierislandgirl.blogspot.com/2008/12/memorial-being-established-for-kirsten.html<br /><br />thank you all for your support. let's send this link around the world and let it have the impact that Kirsten was making herself.<br /><br />special thanks to DJ and Mark for getting this together so quickly and publishing the information.<br /><br />-dahlen familyTurtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-14195519839770595902008-12-11T18:44:00.000-08:002008-12-11T18:54:11.928-08:00kirsten's memorial service updatethe funeral will be held saturday, december 13 at st. catherine of siena church. doors will open to visit family at 10am, followed by mass at 11:00. burial will be private. <br /><br />St. Catherine of Siena<br />2501 Centerville Rd <br />Wilmington, DE 19808 <br />(302) 633-4901<br /><br /><br />thank you all for reaching out and sharing how kirsten has touched your lives. your support in this is much appreciated. contacting such a large number of people is a colossal task. please spread the word to anyone you think may have been missed.Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-58297939935249747882008-12-10T20:02:00.000-08:002008-12-10T21:37:16.907-08:00farewell to my sister, the turtlegirl<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SUCh8z5EP1I/AAAAAAAADz8/5yEu4EnX12U/s1600-h/IMG_9153.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SUCh8z5EP1I/AAAAAAAADz8/5yEu4EnX12U/s200/IMG_9153.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278396829372006226" /></a>kirsten touched the lives of so many people. through her teaching, her writing, and her life, she made friends worldwide. by posting here, i hope to get the word out to as many of you as possible in a timely manner. as the drama of her death unfolds, and the arrangements are made, i will keep this page up to date. please be patient. i know there are loads of questions, and i'll try to address as many as i can.<br /><br />first, the facts:<br />kirsten dahlen was found dead in our mother's home in delaware on the afternoon of tuesday, december 9. she had been in the area about 2 weeks, originally coming to attend my nephew, sebastian's, baptism. she had been in her usual spirits and health during most of this visit, not complaining of any disease apart from insomnia in her last 2 nights. she spent the last day of her life asleep, which we all assumed was the rest she needed. when i came to wake her, she had passed away. the cause of her death remains somewhat unclear, but is apparent that she died in her sleep, and i believe in peace. there is a general agreement that her history of eating disorders may have caused a weakening, and eventual failure in her heart. what actually triggered her death is still a mystery right now, and perhaps will stay so. time may reveal more, but this won't change the reality of her passing.<br /><br />the target date for funeral services is saturday, december 13. the location will be saint catherine of siena church in wilmington, delaware.<br /><br />kirsten carried such a bright torch in her environmental conservation work. she worked tirelessly to protect animals and habitats threatened by change. for this, she was my hero. to anyone interested in honoring her memory, i suggest supporting local environmental efforts, teaching a child about the treasures of nature, or simply going outdoors and celebrating the moment in whatever way you see fit. be the change. i hope to have something more complete to post, including ways to donate and contribute in her memory, in the coming week as the dust settles.<br /><br />again, please be patient. i'll post details as they arrive. <br />our family is doing as well as we can given the situation, and we are humbled and grateful for the love and caring we've received already from those who knew kirsten.<br /><br />so many emotions move during such a time... so many questions. in the end i find solace in the fact that kirsten is now resting in peace. <br /><br />-seanTurtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-49987149214101138702008-11-30T13:35:00.001-08:002008-11-30T13:37:41.824-08:00One More Family Photo<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/STMHhXrflaI/AAAAAAAADz0/MtuZHJnKEB4/s1600-h/sebastion+with+aunts,+uncles+and+parents.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/STMHhXrflaI/AAAAAAAADz0/MtuZHJnKEB4/s320/sebastion+with+aunts,+uncles+and+parents.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274567858454500770" /></a><br /><br /><br />I promise the next post will be about turtles, but I had to post one from Sebastian's baptism for my family to see... It may be a long time before all the aunts and uncles are in the same country again!Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-40539820647007878222008-11-26T14:42:00.000-08:002008-11-26T17:10:54.492-08:00Meeting Sebastian<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3j8z--rjI/AAAAAAAADws/H6OKB2G3yM0/s1600-h/sebastian+dahlen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3j8z--rjI/AAAAAAAADws/H6OKB2G3yM0/s320/sebastian+dahlen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273121372606737970" /></a><br /><br />I don't normally post family stuff on this blog, but I have to post some photos of my newest nephew, Sebastian. I <em>finally</em> met him on Tuesday, and he's already seven months old. The fact that he lives in Sweden makes it harder to stop in for a visit!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3j8VqrL1I/AAAAAAAADwk/pW-XakhLQfI/s1600-h/Sebastian.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 293px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3j8VqrL1I/AAAAAAAADwk/pW-XakhLQfI/s320/Sebastian.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273121364468510546" /></a><br /><br />Isn't he adorable? I'll have to get a photo of him in his turtle clothes :)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3j798U52I/AAAAAAAADwc/oARuxF0RGoQ/s1600-h/happy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 283px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3j798U52I/AAAAAAAADwc/oARuxF0RGoQ/s320/happy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273121358100096866" /></a><br /><br />He seems pretty enamored with his Uncle Gustav (Helene's brother), who will soon be his godfather as well. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3j7QWefkI/AAAAAAAADwU/imW34bOjDpk/s1600-h/gabe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3j7QWefkI/AAAAAAAADwU/imW34bOjDpk/s320/gabe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273121345861746242" /></a><br /><br />Gabe is enjoying the visit as well -- check out the wild rastafari hat he got at Disney last month.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3yUVEMeXI/AAAAAAAADy0/4_rOm1QM1_s/s1600-h/the+4+kids.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 274px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3yUVEMeXI/AAAAAAAADy0/4_rOm1QM1_s/s320/the+4+kids.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273137169786763634" /></a><br /><br />And, of course, the four siblings. We're all actually in the same country! We'll get better pictures on Saturday when we're all not sleep deprived from our various journeys.Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-30755089987871744552008-11-24T16:07:00.000-08:002008-11-26T17:21:52.970-08:00Clam Creek, Jekyll Island<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3n6P9dEdI/AAAAAAAADx0/y4xgq2U1cFM/s1600-h/spanish+moss.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3n6P9dEdI/AAAAAAAADx0/y4xgq2U1cFM/s320/spanish+moss.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273125726623437266" /></a><br /><br />As you may have heard, the traveling turtle girl is traveling these days :)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3mTuGc79I/AAAAAAAADw8/mCbVpyzJJZY/s1600-h/Clam+Creek.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3mTuGc79I/AAAAAAAADw8/mCbVpyzJJZY/s320/Clam+Creek.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273123965187715026" /></a><br /><br />I had a long drive back to Delaware, and made it even longer by driving to the Georgia coast before heading north. I wanted to see the new Georgia Sea Turtle Center, and visit one of my favorite spots in the USA -- Clam Creek.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3o7gQay6I/AAAAAAAADyU/RwVbpEvE0Xk/s1600-h/the+creek.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3o7gQay6I/AAAAAAAADyU/RwVbpEvE0Xk/s320/the+creek.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273126847689444258" /></a><br /><br />It's not at all like Pensacola, but it's still gorgeous. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3n4siDhGI/AAAAAAAADxc/UKDjPzh2eZw/s1600-h/live+oak+tunnel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3n4siDhGI/AAAAAAAADxc/UKDjPzh2eZw/s320/live+oak+tunnel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273125699933406306" /></a><br /><br />The entrance, with the graceful Spanish moss-draped live oaks is enchanting.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3n5OX7rVI/AAAAAAAADxk/FE5ktjnH1WE/s1600-h/moss+draped+oak.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3n5OX7rVI/AAAAAAAADxk/FE5ktjnH1WE/s320/moss+draped+oak.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273125709017754962" /></a><br /><br />The pictures don't do it justice; it's like driving through a deeply-shaded tunnel, which is incredibly welcome in the heat of a summers day! <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3n6TiRcMI/AAAAAAAADx8/QbF21zODXKA/s1600-h/stretch+to+the+left.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3n6TiRcMI/AAAAAAAADx8/QbF21zODXKA/s320/stretch+to+the+left.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273125727583170754" /></a><br /><br />There are egret models here as well. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3n5sw8H0I/AAAAAAAADxs/IYf2FxD2rvU/s1600-h/poised.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3n5sw8H0I/AAAAAAAADxs/IYf2FxD2rvU/s320/poised.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273125717175705410" /></a><br /><br />Some beach-combers commented on how co-operative the birds were as they watched me snap away. Of course, the abscence of an ATV may have helped!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3mUEPn0ZI/AAAAAAAADxM/d1czdVtm6l4/s1600-h/fly+away.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3mUEPn0ZI/AAAAAAAADxM/d1czdVtm6l4/s320/fly+away.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273123971131756946" /></a><br /><br />Of course, eventually s/he had enough and flew to a nearby marsh.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3wYYY9tjI/AAAAAAAADyk/LDtuX5YvivY/s1600-h/stalking+prey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3wYYY9tjI/AAAAAAAADyk/LDtuX5YvivY/s320/stalking+prey.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273135040375404082" /></a><br /><br />Maybe it was just lunchtime!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3mUenbQLI/AAAAAAAADxU/SVzZSeWmJg4/s1600-h/GA+shrimper.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3mUenbQLI/AAAAAAAADxU/SVzZSeWmJg4/s320/GA+shrimper.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273123978210918578" /></a><br /><br />You know you're in Georgia when the shrimp boats stack up, arriving from a bountiful trip to sea. Georgia is fantastic shrimp territory, and the captains are great about using TEDS and rescuing turtles! <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3mTWyNKII/AAAAAAAADw0/T4rsiDkB7HE/s1600-h/boneyard+beach.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3mTWyNKII/AAAAAAAADw0/T4rsiDkB7HE/s320/boneyard+beach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273123958928779394" /></a><br /><br />We call the beach here either boneyard, graveyard or driftwood beach. Driftwood isn't really appropriate as most of these trees have fallen from the maritime forest as the island erodes at the north end. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3o7RZtu-I/AAAAAAAADyM/gcnya2lPOfI/s1600-h/the+boneyard+close+up.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3o7RZtu-I/AAAAAAAADyM/gcnya2lPOfI/s320/the+boneyard+close+up.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273126843701902306" /></a><br /><br />The trees initially die from salt water flooding, then fall once the underlaying beach erodes beneath their roots. It's an amazing place to play at low tide -- at high tide, they are nearly covered with water! <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3mT3WPxwI/AAAAAAAADxE/-UVfWiPcFvM/s1600-h/drainage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3mT3WPxwI/AAAAAAAADxE/-UVfWiPcFvM/s320/drainage.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273123967669880578" /></a><br /><br />You can see some of the tiny drainage/erosion channels here, though it's likely just a few sand grains traveling down this path.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3o74Uvq6I/AAAAAAAADyc/Zla_KcVOg00/s1600-h/GA+turtle+center+image.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS3o74Uvq6I/AAAAAAAADyc/Zla_KcVOg00/s320/GA+turtle+center+image.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273126854150040482" /></a><br /><br />I'll post more on the Georgia Turtle Center in a separate post.Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-16688948601698107002008-11-22T17:22:00.000-08:002008-11-26T17:35:56.745-08:00Farewell to Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS33dvIXwDI/AAAAAAAADzE/W9l0voUxVCo/s1600-h/a+beautiful+day.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS33dvIXwDI/AAAAAAAADzE/W9l0voUxVCo/s320/a+beautiful+day.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273142828960563250" /></a><br /><br />It was my final day on the beaches of Gulf Islands National Seashore. I was disappointed that it was so windy and cold - it made the birds rather shy as they sought warmth in the frigid weather.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS33eovIPTI/AAAAAAAADzc/VGPVBlKDJhQ/s1600-h/turtle+girl+crawl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 311px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS33eovIPTI/AAAAAAAADzc/VGPVBlKDJhQ/s320/turtle+girl+crawl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273142844423945522" /></a><br /><br />I did get a few shots, but I had to work for them! This crawl isn't a turtle crawl - it's a turtle girl crawl... It was the only way to get a photo with the skittish birds. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS33eftAY8I/AAAAAAAADzU/DQFT5xb_62g/s1600-h/tern.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS33eftAY8I/AAAAAAAADzU/DQFT5xb_62g/s320/tern.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273142841999123394" /></a><br /><br />They seemed to fly at the drop of a hat today. They really needed some warm sunshine.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS33d2EYzZI/AAAAAAAADzM/OG8K7WZm4Xk/s1600-h/EBGU.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS33d2EYzZI/AAAAAAAADzM/OG8K7WZm4Xk/s320/EBGU.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273142830822903186" /></a><br /><br />I have so enjoyed my time here, and will miss the gorgeous gulf greatly, but I know there are fantastic adventures ahead. Thanks so much for following my blog to see how the beach is doing. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS35HA1OA7I/AAAAAAAADzk/kD2FhCKsdU8/s1600-h/FP+road.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS35HA1OA7I/AAAAAAAADzk/kD2FhCKsdU8/s320/FP+road.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273144637598335922" /></a><br /><br />Things will change drastically in the next year as road work continues -- the road to Fort Pickens should be finished by April!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS35HlGCNRI/AAAAAAAADzs/2t5M6iXBfjU/s1600-h/gorgeous+gulf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SS35HlGCNRI/AAAAAAAADzs/2t5M6iXBfjU/s320/gorgeous+gulf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273144647332541714" /></a>Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-17414283152674549102008-11-20T18:11:00.000-08:002008-11-20T18:16:48.542-08:00Glaucous Gull at Fort Pickens<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSYZZha9tBI/AAAAAAAADwM/MH0H-nFH3fw/s1600-h/landing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSYZZha9tBI/AAAAAAAADwM/MH0H-nFH3fw/s320/landing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270928340142634002" /></a><br /><br />It was a gorgeous day for a bird survey at Fort Pickens today, though the birds are very skittish with all the road equipment!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSYZZUNElZI/AAAAAAAADwE/BduMl2huk88/s1600-h/juv+gull.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSYZZUNElZI/AAAAAAAADwE/BduMl2huk88/s320/juv+gull.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270928336594703762" /></a><br /><br />There was one unusual gull on the north shore that Bob and Lucy Duncan have confirmed for me -- I never trust my own identification...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSYZY1SamgI/AAAAAAAADv8/m-Idt-B7K0U/s1600-h/juv.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSYZY1SamgI/AAAAAAAADv8/m-Idt-B7K0U/s320/juv.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270928328295619074" /></a><br /><br />It's coloring is so unusual compared to our more prevalent laughing, ring billed and herring gulls. I'm still waiting for the flocks of Bonapartes to arrive!Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-6827656917782470022008-11-18T13:10:00.000-08:002008-11-18T13:28:46.462-08:00It's Freezing on the Beach!!!I know I've been bad about posting lately, but that's because it's been too cold for photos and I want to save the text posts for my trip to Delaware next week...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMy_cKK72I/AAAAAAAADvs/qK60l5Z8jdg/s1600-h/kirsten+in+the+wind.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 268px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMy_cKK72I/AAAAAAAADvs/qK60l5Z8jdg/s320/kirsten+in+the+wind.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270112054425612130" /></a><br /><br />I did get out to the beach today at Perdido and it was COLD! I let Cathy take a photo of me in my three jackets, sweatshirt and three pairs of pants. I could hardly move, but it was still too cold for my taste. And yes, Mom, I wore a hat (well two hoods and a balaclava and ear muffs). Delaware will be tough!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMyYLFYo_I/AAAAAAAADvU/NfySH9BzuOg/s1600-h/cold+Cathy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMyYLFYo_I/AAAAAAAADvU/NfySH9BzuOg/s320/cold+Cathy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270111379827237874" /></a><br /><br />There were very few birds, and I didn't take any photos of them, though I did catch Cathy, a park VIP who finally admits it was 'a bit chilly'. Check out her chilly outfit -- I'd hate to see what she wears when she thinks it's cold!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMyYG1-IiI/AAAAAAAADvM/MRo4TYqnMDI/s1600-h/cathy+shelling.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMyYG1-IiI/AAAAAAAADvM/MRo4TYqnMDI/s320/cathy+shelling.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270111378688844322" /></a><br /><br />The wind was the real culprit on the beach, so we stopped from time to time to catch our breath, and Cathy searched for shells.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMyZMHXujI/AAAAAAAADvk/cJx7J6s21wk/s1600-h/crab+claw.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMyZMHXujI/AAAAAAAADvk/cJx7J6s21wk/s320/crab+claw.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270111397283871282" /></a><br /><br />There were great contrasts in size, <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMyXsWkJuI/AAAAAAAADvE/zyVA7qm_CNY/s1600-h/big+claw.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMyXsWkJuI/AAAAAAAADvE/zyVA7qm_CNY/s320/big+claw.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270111371577796322" /></a><br /><br />of both shells and crab claws,<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMyYmuLmiI/AAAAAAAADvc/YN97vnFx56M/s1600-h/contrast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMyYmuLmiI/AAAAAAAADvc/YN97vnFx56M/s320/contrast.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270111387246107170" /></a><br /><br />and color.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMy_jv03CI/AAAAAAAADv0/a9LuDEMPGd0/s1600-h/light+on+the+water.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SSMy_jv03CI/AAAAAAAADv0/a9LuDEMPGd0/s320/light+on+the+water.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270112056462597154" /></a><br /><br />It may not have been on my 'to do' list, but it was still fun! Now I just need to thaw out a bit :)Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-7884250871097849552008-11-13T15:10:00.000-08:002008-11-13T15:25:55.928-08:00Seasonal Birds<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy2TaguABI/AAAAAAAADt4/fdW9uEPRNNs/s1600-h/marshy+marsh.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy2TaguABI/AAAAAAAADt4/fdW9uEPRNNs/s320/marshy+marsh.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268286108766961682" /></a><br /><br />People say there are no seasons in Florida. I think it's that the seasonal cues are a little different from what people are used to.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy2S9xnKRI/AAAAAAAADtw/7iYlDDTNiCU/s1600-h/hungry+OSPR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy2S9xnKRI/AAAAAAAADtw/7iYlDDTNiCU/s320/hungry+OSPR.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268286101053188370" /></a><br /><br />All the osprey have fledged and fly around, <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy0__kgmZI/AAAAAAAADtQ/T-WmTIoWvwA/s1600-h/have+fish+will+travel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy0__kgmZI/AAAAAAAADtQ/T-WmTIoWvwA/s320/have+fish+will+travel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268284675605961106" /></a><br /><br />chasing fish...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy0_Z75wpI/AAAAAAAADtI/b1qzzpMlVQM/s1600-h/GBHE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy0_Z75wpI/AAAAAAAADtI/b1qzzpMlVQM/s320/GBHE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268284665503531666" /></a><br /><br />Great blue herons, young and old, spend more time in the sunlight,<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy2SvqiJWI/AAAAAAAADto/Co5ZW1oDgbs/s1600-h/ducks+II.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 130px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy2SvqiJWI/AAAAAAAADto/Co5ZW1oDgbs/s320/ducks+II.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268286097265403234" /></a><br /><br />Redheads, mergansers, scaups, scoters, Canada geese, and other fowl join the fun.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy0_GYpDpI/AAAAAAAADtA/9wgas3JF8KM/s1600-h/BUFF.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy0_GYpDpI/AAAAAAAADtA/9wgas3JF8KM/s320/BUFF.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268284660255362706" /></a><br /><br />The unmistakable buffleheads fly in.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy1AdRAZqI/AAAAAAAADtg/oz8W7slr768/s1600-h/DUNL+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy1AdRAZqI/AAAAAAAADtg/oz8W7slr768/s320/DUNL+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268284683577222818" /></a><br /><br />The flocks of dunlin join the fray. See, there are seasons -- the chicks are grown, the turtles are all hatched, the wind blows a little more briskly and fall IS here!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy1AJJlaDI/AAAAAAAADtY/tRVAc-F41aU/s1600-h/pensive+DUNL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRy1AJJlaDI/AAAAAAAADtY/tRVAc-F41aU/s320/pensive+DUNL.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268284678177384498" /></a>Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-27975655992170457872008-11-13T14:43:00.000-08:002008-11-13T15:24:34.383-08:00Fog, Light and Mirrors<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRyzXQQfbgI/AAAAAAAADs4/N3IwgY6TS_c/s1600-h/walk+in+the+clouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRyzXQQfbgI/AAAAAAAADs4/N3IwgY6TS_c/s320/walk+in+the+clouds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268282876199136770" /></a><br /><br />The day started out shrouded in heavy fog. It felt as if I were walking in the clouds as I walked around Perdido Key (that's another story... I got the ATV <em>very</em> stuck in the mud).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRyzW76NVXI/AAAAAAAADsw/epDT26nNQNw/s1600-h/morning+on+the+marsh.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRyzW76NVXI/AAAAAAAADsw/epDT26nNQNw/s320/morning+on+the+marsh.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268282870736967026" /></a><br /><br />The sun came out in fits and starts, promising a sunny day then dipping back behind it's gauzy veil.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRyzWKqETiI/AAAAAAAADsg/5flBCmfBWEk/s1600-h/light.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRyzWKqETiI/AAAAAAAADsg/5flBCmfBWEk/s320/light.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268282857515929122" /></a><br /><br />Around 10 am, the sun finally took a firm stand, lighting the water, the beach and the sky.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRyzVWgpVAI/AAAAAAAADsY/guEgW42JRxQ/s1600-h/coulds+--+use.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRyzVWgpVAI/AAAAAAAADsY/guEgW42JRxQ/s320/coulds+--+use.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268282843517768706" /></a><br /><br />It was worth waiting for! After our wintery October, it was nice to be warm again!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRyzWaAsqJI/AAAAAAAADso/JqiK64dlUCU/s1600-h/light+on+water.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRyzWaAsqJI/AAAAAAAADso/JqiK64dlUCU/s320/light+on+water.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268282861637380242" /></a>Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-51697369777144342932008-11-11T15:47:00.000-08:002008-11-11T16:12:16.720-08:00PB8201 Assessment<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRoayvA1mEI/AAAAAAAADsA/KYifiV7RVlA/s1600-h/let+me+out+of+this+shell.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRoayvA1mEI/AAAAAAAADsA/KYifiV7RVlA/s320/let+me+out+of+this+shell.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267552173078976578" /></a><br /><br />Sally and I met with VIP <a href="http://barrierislandgirl.blogger.com"><b>DJ</b></a> early this morning to assess the last nest of the season, Pensacola Beach 8201. The lone hatchling I released on Saturday is still the only one swimming in the Gulf. That's the bad news...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRoaxryfwEI/AAAAAAAADrw/MDXXrcvosd0/s1600-h/headed+for+sea.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRoaxryfwEI/AAAAAAAADrw/MDXXrcvosd0/s320/headed+for+sea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267552155033649218" /></a><br /><br />The good news is that there are three hatchlings, and about 40 eggs, in the office. We finished assessing the nest as it was 72 hours post hatch, but there were some eggs that still looked viable. Rather than open them at the assessment, we're retaining them for a few days to see if the warmer weather in the office may allow them time to hatch.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRoazKpgKUI/AAAAAAAADsI/qPuMBM8xiGk/s1600-h/two+emerging+from+their+shells.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRoazKpgKUI/AAAAAAAADsI/qPuMBM8xiGk/s320/two+emerging+from+their+shells.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267552180497295682" /></a><br /><br />They've already shown a little progress... The bottom pipped hatchling in this photo was so sluggish on the beach that we weren't even sure it was alive, until it had warmed up a bit in the morning sun. It can be a dangerous thing for these little guys to be so cold in the nest!<br /><br /><br /><br />It may not work. Sometimes, it does, as in the case of the <a href="http://aturtletale.blogspot.com/2008/10/crawling-lessons-or-74-really-can-make.html"><b>lone</b></a> hatchling from SR 8061. Often, it doesn't. This nest is pretty sketchy anyway. It was interesting this morning to see how the nest stopped developing. There were several eggs that stopped in the first two weeks, at stage 1, 2 or 3, and several that stopped developing around three to four weeks, at stage 4 or 5. (Don't worry - I'll spare you those photos!) These dates correspond well with flooding events associated with Hurricanes <a href="http://aturtletale.blogspot.com/2008/09/pensacola-beach-and-gustav.html"><b>Gustav</b></a> and <a href="http://aturtletale.blogspot.com/2008/09/hurricane-ike-irks-island-waters.html"><b>Ike</b></a>. The earliest failed eggs likely died during <a href="http://aturtletale.blogspot.com/2008/08/td-fay.html"><b>Tropical Depression Fay</b></a>, which was just about three days after this nest was laid. It's interesting, in a sad and clinical way, to see that unfold in the nest, and it's a good lesson about relocation sites for next year. Clearly, the eggs need to be a little further north!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRobGJ2OvtI/AAAAAAAADsQ/YxEd_tukzDg/s1600-h/where+is+it+warm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRobGJ2OvtI/AAAAAAAADsQ/YxEd_tukzDg/s320/where+is+it+warm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267552506699759314" /></a><br /><br />It's great to see we still have a few determined hatchlings in the nest though...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRoaxPkb2lI/AAAAAAAADro/H_Gg1KvG6Bo/s1600-h/determined.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRoaxPkb2lI/AAAAAAAADro/H_Gg1KvG6Bo/s320/determined.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267552147458480722" /></a><br /><br />They may be trapped in their eggs 22 days longer than expected, but they still show a lot of spunk!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRoayDd7shI/AAAAAAAADr4/GVBjjPIL9Yo/s1600-h/home+stretch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 283px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRoayDd7shI/AAAAAAAADr4/GVBjjPIL9Yo/s320/home+stretch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267552161389851154" /></a><br /><br />This guy looks very determined to go for a swim. I wouldn't get between him and the sea as he makes his final dash for the waves!Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-45973236127530874452008-11-10T08:55:00.000-08:002008-11-11T07:28:56.028-08:00Lonely Little LoggerheadWe still haven't seen a lot of activity from our last nest, but it is scratching around down there! I am so worried that the cold is getting to them. In the water, sea turtles will wash ashore 'cold stunned' at temps below 45 degrees. I'm not sure what the threshold is for hatchlings in the nest as sand holds the suns heat and keeps them a bit warmer than the air, but it's still been pretty chilly at night. That makes hatchlings sluggish!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRhoWIwkHlI/AAAAAAAADrY/pxGl6qXafVg/s1600-h/sandy+hatchling+at+sunrise.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRhoWIwkHlI/AAAAAAAADrY/pxGl6qXafVg/s320/sandy+hatchling+at+sunrise.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267074493727383122" /></a><br /><br />This one little guy was hanging out at the sand surface when I arrived the other morning. He wasn't crawling around under the screen though -- there was a front flipper and half of his head above the sand, the rest of him was still buried underneath. After I removed the screen and waited a few minutes, he started to emerge fully. I did give him a little boost on his trip to the water since this was a relocated nest.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRhoWoOWzWI/AAAAAAAADrg/fsmZ7q7_jn8/s1600-h/got+wet.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRhoWoOWzWI/AAAAAAAADrg/fsmZ7q7_jn8/s320/got+wet.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267074502173838690" /></a><br /><br />He was still a bit sluggish, even after warming in the rising sun. I gave him a quick dunk in the Gulf to see if that perked him up. As soon as he felt the water, he dashed for the sea. He just needed a reminder that that's his real home.<br /><br />I feel pretty safe calling this hatchling a 'he'. We didn't measure the temperature of the eggs during development, but it's been pretty chilly since this nest was laid. Lower incubation temperatures yield more male hatchlings, so it's fairly reasonable to believe he's a he. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRhoVXJLVOI/AAAAAAAADrQ/t0vFkgs2ZtI/s1600-h/screened+nest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRhoVXJLVOI/AAAAAAAADrQ/t0vFkgs2ZtI/s320/screened+nest.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267074480408843490" /></a><br /><br />In addition to the cool temps, this particular nest was well washed in both Gustav and Ike. Frequent washings for several days can increase the humidity, remove or add extra sand (on this nest, it was added), change the incubation temperature and can, if it's washed enough, drown developing embryos or hatchlings in the nest. It's great to see this didn't happen with this nest. We don't know yet what the hatch percentage is, and it's likely to be low, but that's how mother nature works. If we'd left it in place, about 50 feet south of it's current location, it would have eroded out about three days after it was laid in the first of our tropical weather this year. <br /><br />If you look in the above nest photo, you can see how much sand we had to dig out to get the nest back to it's natural depth. We had to do this three separate times -- after Gustav, after Ike and after a strange low pressure system about two weeks ago. Now I do know why I always have sand in my ears, between my toes and in my belly button. I'm sure going to miss this life!Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-84901200194363378982008-11-07T05:10:00.000-08:002008-11-11T07:29:54.810-08:00There are Hatchlings in August 20th Nest!!!!Today is a grey day here in NW Florida, and usually that dampens my spirits a bit. Not today. I heard the best thing ever this morning -- tiny hatchling scratching in our last loggerhead nest, <a href="http://aturtletale.blogspot.com/2008/08/new-nest.html"><b>PB8201</b></a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRTBPkExreI/AAAAAAAADrI/RBQppz0Bb_s/s1600-h/What+a+day.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRTBPkExreI/AAAAAAAADrI/RBQppz0Bb_s/s320/What+a+day.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266046337428860386" /></a><br /><br />People often look at me with confused expressions when I say that. What exactly do I mean when I say "I hear the hatchlings?" No, they don't talk to me, though I do sometimes talk to them! What happens is that I hear the turtles poke holes in their shells with their egg teeth, crawl out, straighten carapaces that have been curled inside round eggs for two months, and crawl through the sand above their heads to the surface of the beach. Once they're crawling towards the surface, you can hear the sound their tiny flippers make as they sweep sand past their small bodies. It's kind of like <a href="http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1315442"><b>crawling through a sandy sea</b></a> , and it can be noisy!<br /><br />So, what makes me so excited to hear the wee turtles crawling around beneath the sand? After all, we have already escorted over 3600 hatchlings to the Gulf this year. The end of the season has been sketchy thanks to Fay, Gustav, Ike and an unnamed low pressure system about two weeks ago. These storm systems eroded the beaches, flooded nests and generally made a mess, though none of them hit us directly. This particular nest was flooded, buried under two extra feet of sand, nearly eroded out of the dune system, buried again, washed by waves and subject to very cool weather in the October cold snap. All of these things can be fatal for sea turtle nests. After 80 days of incubation time, we were all about ready to give up on finding any hatchlings in this last nest. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRTBPP3aoCI/AAAAAAAADrA/1opWgRIq9Pg/s1600-h/the+nest+this+morning.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRTBPP3aoCI/AAAAAAAADrA/1opWgRIq9Pg/s320/the+nest+this+morning.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266046332004114466" /></a><br /><br />That's why I am so happy today. I don't think the hatchlings will emerge tonight, but they might, so I've loaded up a nest screen and will either screen it myself tonight or see if <a href="http://www.barrierislandgirl.blogspot.com/"><b>DJ</b></a> or Cathy can screen the nest. Since today will be gray and rainy, it will likely slow them down as they sounded pretty deep still and not close enough to the surface to emerge during the darkness of a passing storm. Maybe tomorrow morning though.<br /><br />I am so excited. I am such a turtle geek!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRTBOqvKyqI/AAAAAAAADq4/XmVfRIDi_ao/s1600-h/sea+oats+and+clouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRTBOqvKyqI/AAAAAAAADq4/XmVfRIDi_ao/s320/sea+oats+and+clouds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266046322037410466" /></a><br /><br />There were other great things about today too though, like the sea oats in the clouds,<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRTBOLTVJwI/AAAAAAAADqw/RHOmHvL58gw/s1600-h/Ft+Pickens+and+Tursiops.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRTBOLTVJwI/AAAAAAAADqw/RHOmHvL58gw/s320/Ft+Pickens+and+Tursiops.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266046313599149826" /></a><br /><br />and a pod of dolphin between Perdido Key and Fort Pickens. Looks like a fun life!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRTBNou-EMI/AAAAAAAADqo/H1Nfw9_1FlU/s1600-h/dolphin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 187px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRTBNou-EMI/AAAAAAAADqo/H1Nfw9_1FlU/s320/dolphin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266046304319836354" /></a>Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-53334869348380184272008-11-05T14:52:00.000-08:002008-11-05T15:10:59.853-08:00Training a New BirderBird Watching is tough stuff, and not for the faint of heart, which is why I was both happy and surprised to learn a friend of mine really wanted to learn...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRIkoMDk2FI/AAAAAAAADpA/rnUrb208Tns/s1600-h/Cathy+birdwatching.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRIkoMDk2FI/AAAAAAAADpA/rnUrb208Tns/s320/Cathy+birdwatching.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265311187199121490" /></a><br /><br />We have lots of volunteer opportunities in the Park, and Cathy already works on our turtle project, so this required even more of her time. But, she's a trooper, and she spent the last two days with me, freezing in the wind at Perido yesterday and enjoying a long day at Fort Pickens today.<br /><br />I'm a bit of a task master, always asking too much of people, but I'm working on that. I hope Cathy had at least a little fun away from her other concerns. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInVgItuRI/AAAAAAAADqg/XkiecaPjs0I/s1600-h/PIPL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 269px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInVgItuRI/AAAAAAAADqg/XkiecaPjs0I/s320/PIPL.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265314164706752786" /></a><br /><br />She did great identifying birds! We only had one PIPL (piping plover) both days, but she was able to spot it right away.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInOes-YpI/AAAAAAAADqQ/zRKGYbxc2_s/s1600-h/SNEGs+on+one+leg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 292px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInOes-YpI/AAAAAAAADqQ/zRKGYbxc2_s/s320/SNEGs+on+one+leg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265314044062884498" /></a><br /><br />We had lots of snowy egrets down by the old fort.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRIko92fJBI/AAAAAAAADpI/jcP_eguhVhM/s1600-h/follow+me.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRIko92fJBI/AAAAAAAADpI/jcP_eguhVhM/s320/follow+me.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265311200565994514" /></a><br /><br />They seemed to enjoy playing follow the leader.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRIky_xmdoI/AAAAAAAADpg/RExuEJSmBYg/s1600-h/LBHE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 292px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRIky_xmdoI/AAAAAAAADpg/RExuEJSmBYg/s320/LBHE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265311372881065602" /></a><br /><br />The little blue herons played a different game.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRIkyExc75I/AAAAAAAADpY/TNtPObOSLyQ/s1600-h/i+AM+a+tree.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRIkyExc75I/AAAAAAAADpY/TNtPObOSLyQ/s320/i+AM+a+tree.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265311357042749330" /></a><br /><br />You can almost hear this one saying "I AM a tree."<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInM5F3T6I/AAAAAAAADp4/i_JmlTSQILM/s1600-h/on+one+leg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInM5F3T6I/AAAAAAAADp4/i_JmlTSQILM/s320/on+one+leg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265314016786861986" /></a><br /><br />It is great camouflage,<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInPN6aeeI/AAAAAAAADqY/GtkAVsj-qbk/s1600-h/to+freedom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 283px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInPN6aeeI/AAAAAAAADqY/GtkAVsj-qbk/s320/to+freedom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265314056735717858" /></a><br /><br />til they can't stand it anymore and just take off.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRIkxY4m0sI/AAAAAAAADpQ/AK5FNTBlozY/s1600-h/hiding.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRIkxY4m0sI/AAAAAAAADpQ/AK5FNTBlozY/s320/hiding.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265311345261597378" /></a><br /><br />These two lesser yellowlegs (LEYE) seemed to agree with me that it was rather cold, as they huddled together on the beach,<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInNwJ7OfI/AAAAAAAADqI/Z8qOqCRCO_Y/s1600-h/rising+LEYE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInNwJ7OfI/AAAAAAAADqI/Z8qOqCRCO_Y/s320/rising+LEYE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265314031567845874" /></a><br /><br />rising in unison when we approached too closely on our mule.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInNQ6j_fI/AAAAAAAADqA/aMH9xEcczGg/s1600-h/pelican+perch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SRInNQ6j_fI/AAAAAAAADqA/aMH9xEcczGg/s320/pelican+perch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265314023181909490" /></a><br /><br />There were literally hundreds of brown pelicans (BRPE), many choosing to roost on the roof of the boat lift at the Ranger Station. They were hard to count accurately! <br /><br />In all, it was a gorgeous, if somewhat tiring, bird survey... but Cathy did a fantastic job!Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-59944877716926992512008-11-04T15:27:00.000-08:002008-11-04T15:29:13.391-08:00Please Vote Today!Regardless of your political affiliation, if you are eligible to vote in the US Presidential election today, PLEASE VOTE!!! It's more than a civic duty -- it's a privilege, and part of what makes this country a great place to call home.Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-26446405634749235712008-11-03T09:53:00.000-08:002008-11-18T17:33:34.280-08:00So, Why Sea Turtles?This is a question I get nearly every day... why would an obviously intelligent, well-traveled, cultured young woman choose to dedicate her life to such an esoteric topic, studying and protecting sea turtles? It's a good question, but not the easiest one to answer.<br /><br />I started out in pre-med, and switched to ecology and marine biology after being inspired by a very tough professor in undergrad. He was impossible to please, and demanding to the utmost, but he pushed me to find the very best within myself. I'm lucky I found such a great mentor early on. After school, I spent a year working with nesting common and roseate terns on Great Gull Island, New York, then a year teaching, then a summer with nesting piping plovers and terns on Cape Cod. <br /><br />I loved all of it, but have been called by the sea since I was very young. My mother will tell you that I ran away when we were at the beach when I was two years old. It seems I thought the beach was far more fun than nap time! She said my head was always in the sand... I've posted earlier about my grandmother, my mom's mom, who was also a lifelong inspiration. She taught so much about responsibility, respect and integrity, by example, though I didn't always appreciate it at the time! <br /><br />I never really stopped searching for the sea ever since my toddler escapades. Though I'd seen many turtles at aquariums throughout my childhood, I 'met' my first wild adult sea turtle when visiting Holden Beach, North Carolina, with a friend in grade school, and I was fascinated. At first, I just loved watching the huge turtle lumber up and down the dunes, and the tiny turtles we later found emerging from another nest on the island. How did these baby turtles navigate the waves, avoid being eaten, grow to the size of their mother, and return to this same beach to nest? I was hooked by the magic and myth of it all. Turtles seem to do a great job capturing our attention!<br /><br />After several years of volunteer work, I finally started working with nesting sea turtles in an official capacity with Dr. Jim Richardson on his remarkable Little Cumberland Island Loggerhead Project in coastal Georgia. At that point, he'd already spent 34 years of his life on the study -- now it's about 45 years old! Working with the turtles there, I got my first taste of the mysteries surrounding them. Jim was a pioneer in sea turtle science, having trained at the side of Archie Carr (the father of sea turtle biology), but it was apparent we'd been trying to learn about sea turtles by studying their maternity ward, and had seen little else.<br /><br />After working with Jim, I spent some time working with foraging turtles on sea grass beds and corals, trying to understand a little more about their life history and their role in the environment. I worked with satellite tracking projects to see where the adults roamed after leaving the beaches, and I worked with a consortium of scientists to find mtDNA markers unique to each nesting beach in the Caribbean. From personal observation, fantastic colleagues, and research, it became apparent to this neophyte turtle girl that turtles play a much larger role in overall ecosystem health than we realize.... And the Traveling Turtle Girl was born...<br /><br />Sea turtles are an umbrella species, kind of like canaries in the global coal mine. Turtles rely on healthy rivers to bring clean water to near shore communities, supporting healthy grass beds, coral reefs, and nurseries for pelagic and neritic species. They rely on healthy reefs and sea grass beds and nurseries themselves as well. Greens need the grass beds, hawksbills feed on sponges growing on coral reefs, loggerheads, ridleys and flatbacks depend on near shore nurseries to provide a continuing supply of food for them, and leatherbacks rely on the jellies. Love those leatherbacks keeping the jellies in check! <br /><br />I know, it still doesn't sound like much, but it seemed to me that turtles rely on almost everything related to the beach, in the water and out. They need strong dune systems to shelter developing eggs. They need low light levels to allow nesting to continue. They need beaches where their natural predators are not over-populated and decimating eggs and nesting adults alike. They needed reduced and/or controlled human exploitation. They need healthy ecosystems to allow them to feed, grow and thrive. Turtles bridge the gap between land and sea, relying on both and indicating overall environmental health. They are affected by so much, from ENSO (El Nino/Southern Oscillation) to the apparent acidification of the sea, to rising sea levels, to pollution in rivers and streams, to plastic bags and balloons, to high rises and road traffic on the beaches. And they are so lovable. What better animal to use to teach people about their impact on the world? <br /><br />Everyone who sees a hatching nest seems to fall in love with the tiny turtles, and wants to know how to help them survive. I've seen people literally chase sea gulls hundreds of yards down a sandy beach to keep the birds from feasting on hatchlings. I've watched life-long turtle fishermen turn in to dedicated, enthusiastic environmental educators. I've watched people from every walk of life look on in awe as they meet these amazing animals for the first time. And all of them want to do more to help. <br /><br />It's so easy to make a difference, once you understand how to do so. That's why I'm still here, still struggling, still trying to change my little corner of the world. If we can each take baby steps to increase our understanding of these magnificent ocean navigators, we really can change the future.<br /><br />In the next several weeks, I'll talk a little about each turtle species, what makes them unique, and ways we can both learn about them and improve their survival odds. <br /><br />Thanks for reading my little stream of consciousness... And thanks for caring... Please leave me a note and let me know what you would like to learn!Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-88978980812770882302008-11-01T13:27:00.000-07:002008-11-18T17:55:24.268-08:00Plenty of PelicansToday, I recorded changes in the north shore tideline along Fort Pickens. Once I was finished, I was able to take time for a bird survey on the south shore. It's so much fun to watch the birdies!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy80IDlE-I/AAAAAAAADoU/klEtZuc5gQg/s1600-h/BRPE+II.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 158px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy80IDlE-I/AAAAAAAADoU/klEtZuc5gQg/s320/BRPE+II.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263789668190983138" /></a><br /><br />I ran into another park employee walking down by the fort, trying not to disturb the flock of pelicans resting on a sand bar. They were everywhere today!<br /><br />I did cause them to fly after I counted them and drove by. I try to give them space, but the sound of the ATV always seems to spook them.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy8zqg3QpI/AAAAAAAADoM/iHyiSbXZaBE/s1600-h/BRPE+and+LAGU.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy8zqg3QpI/AAAAAAAADoM/iHyiSbXZaBE/s320/BRPE+and+LAGU.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263789660260745874" /></a><br /><br />That may not be the worst thing on a cold day as the activity warms them, and their sandwich tern (SATE), laughing gull (LAGU) and herring gull (HERG) friends!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy8y2UxTlI/AAAAAAAADoE/v7CB1DGTB8Q/s1600-h/BRPE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy8y2UxTlI/AAAAAAAADoE/v7CB1DGTB8Q/s320/BRPE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263789646251380306" /></a><br /><br />Watching them float en masse on the wind, I wondered about the parallel behaviors between schools of fish and bird flocks. The impressive synchronized behavior can help protect them from predators, leaving the vulnerable, weak or slow more exposed to attack than the strong. Did the behavior evolve separately in these two divergent vertebrate groups?<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy9NSe8wRI/AAAAAAAADos/swEcKknhtQg/s1600-h/wading+willets.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy9NSe8wRI/AAAAAAAADos/swEcKknhtQg/s320/wading+willets.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263790100486865170" /></a><br /><br />Of course, there were other birds about as well, like this pair of wading willets (WILL). They sound like squeaky wheels when startled.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy80Uh0cGI/AAAAAAAADoc/82AajAG1dSk/s1600-h/RUTU+opening+clam.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy80Uh0cGI/AAAAAAAADoc/82AajAG1dSk/s320/RUTU+opening+clam.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263789671539044450" /></a><br /><br />My favorite RUTUs (ruddy turnstones) were active as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy9M7t-NAI/AAAAAAAADok/5jbryNiAgrQ/s1600-h/tough+work.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy9M7t-NAI/AAAAAAAADok/5jbryNiAgrQ/s320/tough+work.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263790094375859202" /></a><br /><br />This lucky one found a clam washed out by a passing wave. It looks like hard work to get at the tiny meal!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy8xy8U_PI/AAAAAAAADn8/fj6sidBPRPE/s1600-h/asphalt+becoming+habitat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy8xy8U_PI/AAAAAAAADn8/fj6sidBPRPE/s320/asphalt+becoming+habitat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263789628163685618" /></a><br /><br />The pre-Ivan road is much more visible on the south shore these days as well. It's interesting to see how it's becoming part of the habitat, supporting algal growth and who knows what else... I may have to go tidepooling a bit next time I'm out there!Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-67468120877542985262008-11-01T13:24:00.000-07:002008-11-18T18:04:35.777-08:00Road Crew at Fort Pickens!!!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy7hDkofEI/AAAAAAAADn0/U3zVZ-1yFO8/s1600-h/road+crews+on+fort+pickens.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy7hDkofEI/AAAAAAAADn0/U3zVZ-1yFO8/s320/road+crews+on+fort+pickens.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263788241058298946" /></a><br /><br />The Park issued a press release regarding the road work at Fort Pickens, so I'm not telling any secrets here. Plus, all this huge yellow equipment at the gate is really hard to misinterpret. Road work is scheduled to begin Monday morning!Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-19968717969850275632008-10-31T13:11:00.000-07:002008-11-04T03:21:31.845-08:00Sunlight on Perdido Key<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy6ECVRYgI/AAAAAAAADnM/QsNhdUBw58o/s1600-h/brilliant+sunlight.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy6ECVRYgI/AAAAAAAADnM/QsNhdUBw58o/s320/brilliant+sunlight.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263786642997600770" /></a><br /><br />I was fascinated by the light on the water today.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy6GZSw1rI/AAAAAAAADnc/v7bUnq0Ztb8/s1600-h/salt+spray.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy6GZSw1rI/AAAAAAAADnc/v7bUnq0Ztb8/s320/salt+spray.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263786683520833202" /></a><br /><br />I struggled to capture what I was seeing, but failed utterly. I think I need more practice! Of course, I try to limit photos to about 5 to ten minutes our of my nine hour day, so I don't have all that much time to play with except on my days off.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy6HYz64KI/AAAAAAAADnk/pQG41K9Dqe4/s1600-h/sunlight+through+the+waves.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy6HYz64KI/AAAAAAAADnk/pQG41K9Dqe4/s320/sunlight+through+the+waves.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263786700571336866" /></a><br /><br />The way the light shone through the crashing waves was just stunning!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy6FGtvRFI/AAAAAAAADnU/EcCnkcY9vx0/s1600-h/natural+camoflage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy6FGtvRFI/AAAAAAAADnU/EcCnkcY9vx0/s320/natural+camoflage.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263786661353833554" /></a><br /><br />I was really at Perdido for a bird survey... again, they were hiding from the cold. I had to look twice at this rock (from about 100 yards away) before I realized it was a gull! He blends in pretty well from a distance!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy6IFEop6I/AAAAAAAADns/NWRUYeMzzcc/s1600-h/trying+to+keep+up+with+blowing+sand.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy6IFEop6I/AAAAAAAADns/NWRUYeMzzcc/s320/trying+to+keep+up+with+blowing+sand.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263786712452605858" /></a><br /><br />I ended the day, as usual, at PB8201. This is getting to be a marathon nest, but since sea turtles are reptiles, this cold snap could <a href="http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/vnhs/pdf-files/pdf-full-articles/B17-full-Loggerhead-Sea-Turtle.pdf"><b>slow down</b></a> their development. We'll likely wait til at least 80 days of incubation time before we try to assess the nest. Of course, all this cool weather means the hatchlings that do emerge will most likely be <a href="http://www.sms.si.edu/irlSpec/Chelon_mydas.htm"><b>male.</b></a>Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-19753685491382515912008-10-30T12:58:00.000-07:002008-11-04T14:13:14.025-08:00Shorebirds and Shades of Blue<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy2EFjZXoI/AAAAAAAADms/NWjxt_RXAy0/s1600-h/blue+water.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy2EFjZXoI/AAAAAAAADms/NWjxt_RXAy0/s320/blue+water.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263782245815639682" /></a><br /><br />Today was a shorebird survey day near Opal Beach. As usual, the water was just this side of paradise -- it almost made me want to go for a swim!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy2H4EraiI/AAAAAAAADm8/15l6FaL2Udk/s1600-h/opal+beach.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy2H4EraiI/AAAAAAAADm8/15l6FaL2Udk/s320/opal+beach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263782310916614690" /></a><br /><br />The pavilions are battered by hurricanes over the past several years, but they are doing remarkably well!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy2IWgZAVI/AAAAAAAADnE/Uh1nKbkscZc/s1600-h/SNPL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy2IWgZAVI/AAAAAAAADnE/Uh1nKbkscZc/s320/SNPL.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263782319085912402" /></a><br /><br />Not many birds were about today though -- it seems they were smarter than I am, and they sought shelter from the chill wind. There were some trusty SNPLs (snowy plovers) on the north shore...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy2Eqz31RI/AAAAAAAADm0/PYP6ifHJ-NQ/s1600-h/DUNL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy2Eqz31RI/AAAAAAAADm0/PYP6ifHJ-NQ/s320/DUNL.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263782255816856850" /></a><br /><br />along with a DUNL (dunlin) or two, but it was fairly quiet.<br /><br />The good thing about this cold weather is that it's preventing the fall <a href="http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=12628"><b>red tide</b></a> bloom from getting out of control, and it should keep any late season storms at bay. See, there is a silver lining in everything!Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978493605870890537.post-66880228637827267082008-10-29T11:49:00.000-07:002008-11-04T03:21:51.831-08:00Pensacola Drifts<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy0Kb56A8I/AAAAAAAADmM/fhZgcGAsgTY/s1600-h/PB+sunrise.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy0Kb56A8I/AAAAAAAADmM/fhZgcGAsgTY/s320/PB+sunrise.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263780155871593410" /></a><br /><br />It's been rather windy and chilly on Pensacola Beach this week. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy0K8seOzI/AAAAAAAADmc/gMcBG-Muays/s1600-h/snow,+sand+or+the+sahara.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy0K8seOzI/AAAAAAAADmc/gMcBG-Muays/s320/snow,+sand+or+the+sahara.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263780164673616690" /></a><br /><br />There's sand blowing everywhere, making huge drifts that mimic snow. This one reminds me of the Sahara!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy0KsjpcNI/AAAAAAAADmU/kln1NdgCKpQ/s1600-h/sand+cliffs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy0KsjpcNI/AAAAAAAADmU/kln1NdgCKpQ/s320/sand+cliffs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263780160341635282" /></a><br /><br />In other places, the weight of windblown sand cause mini-sand slides, leaving tiny berms behind.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy0J16hUlI/AAAAAAAADmE/EQfwR8gv2mU/s1600-h/PB8201.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a0l1cKlmB48/SQy0J16hUlI/AAAAAAAADmE/EQfwR8gv2mU/s320/PB8201.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263780145673622098" /></a><br /><br />Of course, our last nest has these issues as well. It's hard to keep ahead of the sand piling on top of PB8201, but it's necessary. Sand is good for insulation on these cold days, but it's also important to keep the eggs from growing too humid, and keep the distance to the surface optimal for the tiny hatchlings who are relying on stored energy from their yolk sacs until the reach offshore waters... We do still hope to see hatchlings here soon!Turtle Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918157219347380599noreply@blogger.com0