Reprinted by The Brunswick News Mon, Aug 11, 2008

By ANNA FERGUSON

With a few weeks left in the season, employees at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island are crossing their fingers in hopes of having a record year for loggerhead sea turtle nesting.

As of Friday, 165 loggerhead nests had been spotted along the Jekyll coastline. The record high for nests counted on the beach of the state park is 204, established in 2003.

“Things are going good,” said Stefanie Ouellette, education coordinator for the center.

Across the state, turtle counts have been equally positive. Turtle nests have reached a record high, with an estimated 1,544 nests on Georgia’s coastline.

Florida, too, has good news to report on the turtle front, noting a record high in nests counts since 2003, Ouellette said.

Loggerheads, an endangered species, typically have a nesting season that runs from June through August, with hatching season ending in October. Nesting counts had held steady in high numbers throughout the summer but began to slow toward the start of August, making this week’s count a welcome change, Ouellette said.

A number of explanations have been tossed about to account for the high number of nests, though no one reason can be pinned down, Ouellette said.

Last year’s nesting season was a record low for Jekyll, leading researchers to believe that this year’s high is part of the reptiles natural seasonal variations. The flux in counts could also be paying off from the ongoing efforts from the scientific community to increase awareness about nest protection and turtle preservation, Ouellette said.

“There is no one particular reason,” she said. “It could be any number of things.”

Whatever the reason, the 2008 nesting season is proving to be a great year, she said.

The turtle center is now switching its public awareness efforts from nests to hatchlings.

Turtle hatching season goes through the fall and is a season that is even more sensitive for turtles than nesting. Each nests holds an average of 100 to 120 eggs, with hatch rates posed between 80 and 100 percent for unmoved nests.

The baby turtles must make it from their nests to the ocean to survive, a move that is made doubly hard by harsh human lights.

“Now is the time to be even more careful about lights and keeping lights away from the beach,” Ouellette said.

To help ensure a safe route from the sand to the water for newly hatched turtles, Ouellete reminds beachgoers to point headlights away from dunes and to take precautions with flashlights by avoiding light use near the beach and adjacent sidewalks.

Tags: Georgia Sea Turtle Center, sea turtle, sea turtle hatching season, sea turtle nests
Posted in Diversions, In the News, Nature Connection | No Comments »

Early Risers Can Enjoy Hatchling Walks

These tours offer a look at the sea turtle conservation efforts and research programs on Jekyll Island. Early morning risers will explore barrier island ecology while visiting the island’s active turtle nests. The tours include opportunities to assist with data recording and to witness a nest excavation of a hatched nest!
Walks will be conducted on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday throughout August, and September (Walks after mid-September are tentative based on hatching and may be cancelled). Time varies between 7am-10am, depending on the tide. Location will also vary depending on which nest has hatched and is ready to be excavated.
Participants will be asked to meet at the designated site 15-30 minutes prior to the walk to check-in (you will receive a phone call a couple of days before your walk with directions to the site) and gather as a group with the Walk Guide to begin the walk on time. The walk will consist of a 30-minute beach ecology walk/talk leading up to an active nest that has been hatching on its own for a minimum of 5 days. The group will be met by the Turtle Patrol Interns who will conduct the post-hatching excavation on the nest. Group size is limited in order to maximize the experience for participants and in compliance with Georgia Department of Natural Resources permit restrictions.

Cost is $10 adults (ages 13+), $5 children (12 and under). Price does not include general admission to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center)
*Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information, visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org or call the Georgia Sea Turtle at 912-635-4444.

Arribada Adventures

Looking for something fun and educational to do as a family this summer? Come join us for Arribada Adventures at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! While sea turtle biologists typically use the term “arribada” to describe the mass nesting of hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center Education Team is using it to introduce our new summer programs! Arribada Adventures is geared toward families and has been designed for turtle enthusiasts both young and old! These two hour programs will introduce you and your little hatchlings to Georgia’s turtles! Become an expert Turtler through hands-on activities, games, crafts, and outdoor exploration. Space is limited and reservations are required. For registration and location information, please call 912-635-4444.

Cost: $10/adult, $5/child*. Saturdays 9:00am -11:00am
*Please note that price does not include general admission to the Center.
August 2: Lend ‘em a Flipper
Learn how YOU too can help our fine, flippered friends by participating in a beach sweep and creating
recycled sea turtle art.
August 9: Giving Sea Turtles a Chance
Come learn what the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is doing to help sea turtles. Participate in a mock sea turtle rescue and learn what we do to rehabilitate a turtle!

Education and Conservation

Georgia Sea Turtle Center Educators Alicia Marin and Sarah Mathias had the opportunity to attend and present at the National Marine Educators Association Conference, One World, One Water held in Savannah this year. Sarah presented “Swim into Learning with Sea Turtles,” an update on the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and the education programs we offer children. Alicia presented her Masters Thesis, “Sun, Sand and Sea Turtle: Educating Caribbean Youth through Nonformal Environmental Education.”
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center Education Department is proud to announce that during their first year of operation, approximately 4500 children from 78 individual schools! With that in mind we greatly look forward to the upcoming school year and encourage teachers to bring their students to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for a visit.
If you are an educator interested in arranging a trip and lesson at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, contact the Center at 912-635-4444.

Tags: arribada adventures, conservation, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, hatchling walks, jekyll island, jekyll island georgia, nature tours, sea turtle education, sea turtles
Posted in August 2008, Beachscape | No Comments »

Beachview Club staff member Cindy Smith recently visited the Georgia Sea Turtle Center when her family came to vacation on Jekyll Island. Cindy’s sister Tammy and Tammy’s children, Nicole and Cody, were visiting from Detroit and had the opportunity to take in all Jekyll Island to offer. The entire group was so captivated by our flippered friends at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center that they wrote in to share about their trip:

My sister Tammy, her daughter Nicole and son Cody had such a good time at the Turtle Center during their visit from Detroit..it was the highlight of the vacation. Nicole was amazed when she saw the viewing window where they were actually patching up a sea turtle that had been cut by a boat, after which we observed the team feed this turtle by feeding tube. What great care is given to one of God’s most precious creatures. We also took a picture of Dylan. Nicole and Cody were sad they would miss her release, but I sent them the Islander and newspaper articles and called to let them know what time Good Morning America would air the story.

Thanks so much Cindy and Tammy!

Tags: Dylan, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, jekyll island, sea turtle hospital
Posted in Diversions | 1 Comment »

And here’s the link they had on their website to learn more about Dylan!

Tags: Dylan the Sea Turtle, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, sea turtles, the georgia aquarium
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Thanks to Governor Perdue and the Georgia General Assembly, Georgia residents who want to show their support for conservation on Jekyll Island and the Georgia Coast can soon purchase a specialty automobile license plate featuring the Georgia Sea Turtle Center logo.The Georgia Sea Turtle Center will receive funds disbursed through the Nongame Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Acquisition Fund under Georgia’s Specialty License Plate revenue-sharing program.


In addition to raising needed funds, the new specialty license plates will also raise awareness of the Center and its important work. The barrier islands along the Georgia coast are important nesting areas for primarily loggerhead sea turtles, but the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has quickly become a world-renowned facility that has engaged in many issues affecting the species.

“This is a new and easy way to help conservation efforts on the coast,” said Rep. Jerry Keen (R - St. Simons Island). “Georgians love to show their support in outward ways. Given the success of a similar program in Florida, we are expecting this tag to be very popular.”

The new Georgia Sea Turtle Center specialty license plate is not yet available at County tag offices, but reservations forms can be submitted by visiting www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.

Tags: Georgia Sea Turtle Center, license plate, sea turtle conservation, turtle license plate, wildlife conservation
Posted in July 2008 | No Comments »

As many of you already know, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is always very busy treating patients—each animal requires individual attention everyday. With summer here, we are treating even more injured turtles. Both turtles and humans alike enjoy the warm weather of summer, unfortunately this high level of outdoor activity leads to turtle injuries and mortalities—more personal watercraft on the ocean and more vehicles crossing the causeway to and from Jekyll Island.

On the 12th of June the Georgia Sea Turtle Center received its newest patient. The sub-adult Loggerhead Sea Turtle was caught while the Georgia Bulldog (the University of Georgia Marine Extension’s research vessel) was trawling offshore near St. Marys, Georgia. The turtle has severe injuries that include deep fractures on the top and bottom of the shell and a fractured rear flipper. A propeller is suspected to be the cause of these injuries. The exact age of turtle is unknown, but it can be approximated using the dimensions of the turtle to be around 10 years old. The gender of this turtle is not known at this point. Loggerhead Sea Turtles reach maturity at around 30-35 years of age; at this time the gender of the turtle can be determined by the length of the tail. The veterinary staff at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center will be closely monitoring the new patient.

Although they are not sea turtles, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is treating an increasing number of Diamondback Terrapins. These turtles are often hit by cars traveling on roads through salt marshes (like the Jekyll Island Causeway). Female turtles, in search for the perfect spot to nest, venture across the road where they meet head on with humanity.

As many as 20 Diamondback Terrapins a day are hit by cars on the causeway—the majority of these turtles die. With regular causeway patrols, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is aware of the situation and is doing everything possible to curb the rate of mortality. The staff also patrols the causeway to collect casualties’ viable eggs to be incubated. The patrol also includes collecting data on these turtles so that we can fully grasp the impact the causeway has and to shine light on possible solutions to the problem. Please be aware of vehicles, researchers, and Diamondback Terrapins and use caution while driving on the causeway during the summer.

To learn more about sea turtles, their life history, and the impact humans have on them, visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Georgia. You can read the staff’s blog and check out patient updates at www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.

Tags: diamondback terrapins, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, jekyll island causeway, loggerhead turtle, st. mary's, turtle crossing
Posted in July 2008 | No Comments »

By ANNA FERGUSON, reprinted from The Brunswick News

Swimming circles in an aqua-blue tank at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Dylan appears unaware of her celebrity sea turtle status.

Does she know she is one of the most famous reptiles in America? Does she know that fans flock to her tank daily just to catch a glimpse of her?

From the depths of her tank at 214 Stable Road on Jekyll Island, Dylan appears oblivious to her own popularity. But then, she pops her head from the water, gives a flick of her fin, and swims a bit faster.

Her actions leave no room for doubt. Indeed, Dylan has a very real inkling what a super star she actually is.

Come Friday, when Dylan is released back into the wild, her shining star will fly even higher as camera crews and local, regional and national media head to Jekyll Island to cover the celebrated event.

“Dylan has become well known worldwide,” said Stefanie Ouellette, education director at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. “A lot of folks have heard his story and have followed it closely. There will be a lot of people here to watch her release. It’s become a national story.”

A decade ago, Dylan was discovered as an abandoned hatchling on the Jekyll Island shores. Tidelands Nature Center adopted the baby Dylan, housing her there until she outgrew the facility. Dylan swims in her tank at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island as admirers watch her progress. Dylan was found as an abandoned hatchling on Jekyll more than a decade ago. She will be released into the Atlantic Ocean on Friday. (Michael Hall/The Brunswick News)

When the Georgia Aquarium opened in Atlanta in 2005, Dylan moved to the big city for life in the fast lane.

But the city proved to not be the right fit for the Jekyll native, as she grew into her own and became a bit too fiery for her own good.

“She became a little too interested in the other animals in the tank,” Ouellette said. “We all thought at that point, she was ready to go back into the wild.”

To prepare the turtle for her attempted release back to nature last May, Dylan was sent back south to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. As it turns out, the flippered critter wasn’t as prepared for the real world as was initially thought.

“She was terrified of crabs, and that’s what she would need to eat in the wild,” Ouellette said. “So we had to break her of that fear.”

Now, a little more than a year later, Dylan has overcome her fear of pinching crabs and is ready to be one with the wild waters of the East Coast.

Dylan’s adventure through captivity will come to an end Friday when the center releases her back to the wild.

“She’ll escape her walls and go back home,” said Ouellette.

It’s unknown what exactly will happen to Dylan once she leaves the center, but Ouellette and her co-workers, like any eager parents, are anxious to find out.

A rice-sized tag has been implanted under Dylan’s skin so researchers at the center can keep track of her adventures in open waters.

Scientists are hoping to gain additional insight on the lives of endangered sea turtles for further research from the tag, Ouellette said.

“We have no idea where she’ll go, but it will be interesting to find out,” said Ouellette. “We’ve broken her ties and dependency on humans and we’ve prepared her as much as we can.”

Standing outside Dylan’s tank on a recent day, Ron Murray marveled at the vivacious nature of the oversized turtle.

This wasn’t the first time Murray, a volunteer at the Georgia Aquarium, had become acquainted with Dylan. But while on vacation to the Golden Isles, he made a point to say hello to his old friend.

“She sure has more personality than any turtle I have ever seen,” Murray said. “At the aquarium, she’d swim right up in the glass and look at the visitors, while the other turtles would just stay near the top of the tank.

“This Dylan, she’s something else. Everyone loves her.”

Tags: Dylan the Sea Turtle, Georgia Coast Beach Vacation, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, jekyll island, sea turtles
Posted in Diversions, In the News, Nature Connection, Press Releases | No Comments »

Funds raised by sales of new car tag will go towards conservation and education programs

Thanks to Governor Perdue and the Georgia General Assembly, Georgia residents who want to show their support for conservation on Jekyll Island and the Georgia Coast can soon purchase a specialty automobile license plate featuring the Georgia Sea Turtle Center logo.The Georgia Sea Turtle Center will receive funds disbursed through the Nongame Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Acquisition Fund under Georgia’s Specialty License Plate revenue-sharing program.

In addition to raising needed funds, the new specialty license plates will also raise awareness of the Center and its important work. The barrier islands along the Georgia coast are important nesting areas for primarily loggerhead sea turtles, but the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has quickly become a world-renowned facility that has engaged in many issues affecting the species.

“This is a new and easy way to help conservation efforts on the coast,” said Rep. Jerry Keen (R - St. Simons Island). “Georgians love to show their support in outward ways. Given the success of a similar program in Florida, we are expecting this tag to be very popular.”

The new Georgia Sea Turtle Center specialty license plate is not yet available at County tag offices, but reservations forms can be submitted by visiting georgiaseaturtlecenter.org .

Tags: georgia beach vacation, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, jekyll island, jekyll island license tag, sea turtles
Posted in In the News, Press Releases | 1 Comment »

Arribada Adventures!

Looking for something fun and educational to do as a family this summer? Come join us for Arribada Adventures at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! While sea turtle biologists typically use the term “arribada” to describe the mass nesting of hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center Education Team is using it to introduce our new summer programs! Arribada Adventures is geared toward families and has been designed for turtle enthusiasts both young and old! These two hour programs will introduce you and your little hatchlings to Georgia’s turtles! Become an expert Turtler through hands-on activities, games, crafts, and outdoor exploration. Space is limited and reservations are required. For registration and location information, please call 912-635-4444.

Cost: $10/adult, $5/child*. Saturdays 9:00am -11:00am *Please note that price does not include general admission to the Center. June 21: Totally Terrapins: Get to know the Diamondback Terrapin up close and personal through a live animal presentation. You will also learn about the threats they face and participate in a release! June 28: So YOU want to be a Sea Turtle: Sea turtles spend the majority of their lives in the ocean! How do they do it? Learn about the 5 species of sea turtles that visit Georgia’s coast and learn what makes them unique. July 5: Nifty Nesters: Sea turtles are egg-cellent nesters. Become a momma sea turtle and learn all about the nesting process by playing a fun and interactive game on the beach. You’ll also learn how they do it by building your own edible nest! July 12: Cracking the Crawl: Become a sea turtle detective and learn how to identify tracks in the sand and who they belong to. Sea turtles are not alone out there on the beach. Explore the beach environment and discover other critters who call the dunes home. July 19: Turtles on the Move: Where in the world do sea turtles go? They begin their lives on the beach and then spend the majority of their lives in the ocean. Sea turtle biologists use a variety of methods to follow sea turtles as they migrate through the ocean. Learn about the different tags we use and how you too can follow sea turtles online! July 26: It’s Tough Being a Sea Turtle: Discover the not-so-glamorous part of being a sea turtle and the difficulties they face. Through interactive role play and games, participants will simulate how humans contribute to the pollution of the marine environment. August 2: Lend ‘em a Flipper: Learn how YOU too can help our fine, flippered friends by participating in a beach sweep and creating recycled sea turtle art. August 9: Giving Sea Turtles a Chance: Come learn what the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is doing to help sea turtles. Participate in a mock sea turtle rescue and learn what we do to rehabilitate a turtle!Turtle Tours Night Walks Explore the beach at night, and learn about the amazing journey of the loggerhead sea turtles nesting along the Georgia Coast. These popular programs begin with a 30-45 minute presentation at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center about the natural history of sea turtles, followed by a guided beach tour (participants must provide their own transportation from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to the beach). Turtle walks will be conducted June 1 – July 31 (Walks will not be conducted on July 4) with two nightly programs every day (8:30 and 9:30 P.M.). Depending on the nesting season, the concluding date may vary. Reservations are required as group size is limited by DNR permit restrictions and programs nearly always sell out many days in advance. Participants will have a limited amount of time to briefly explore the Exhibit Gallery before their presentation begins, but the hospital area will not be accessible. Cost: $10 adults (13+), $5 children (ages 4-12) Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult Due to the time and nature of these walks, we require children to be at least 4 years of age. For the safety of the turtles, flashlights, camera and video camera lights are not allowed on the Walks. Night vision cameras are allowed. Walk Guides will have a special, turtle-friendly, approved flashlight.

Tags: Georgia Sea Turtle Center, hatchlings, jekyll island, night walks, sea turtles, turtle tours
Posted in Beachscape, June 2008 | 1 Comment »

Vida, the teenage loggerhead sea turtle that stranded in St. Augustine this winter, is on her way back to the sea. Today, at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, she received her satellite transmitter, flipper tags and PIT tag and is resting quietly awaiting her ride to Amelia Island tomorrow.

Q: Where is Main Beach Park?
A: At the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and North Fletcher Avenue in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida.
Directions to Main Beach Park from Interstate 95:
Exit at SR-200/SR-A1A and continue east for 12.1 miles
Turn right on CR-108/Sadler Road and continue 1.3 miles
Turn left at S Fletcher Ave/SR-A1A and continue north 2.0 miles to the stop light at Atlantic Ave

*Please note that date, time and location is subject to change at any time.

Don’t forget to stop and check out Wild Amelia Nature Festival while you’re there for the release…the Georgia Sea Turtle Center will be hosting a table, so drop by and say ‘hello’!

Tags: , georgia beach vacation, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, jekyll island, sea turtle, sea turtles
Posted in Diversions, Festivalgoer, Nature Connection | No Comments »