Hi Fellow LBK Turtle Watch Members                                                 

 

Just wanted to share a picture, that someone else took, of one of the 700 pound Leatherback
turtles that was on Juno Beach last weekend.

 

Several of the Mote staff & some docents from Wednesday afternoon Mammal Center spent
early Saturday & Sunday out on the beach searching for turtles. With the help of Kelly Martin,
the Mote Turtle Exhibit Coordinator, we were in contact with some Leatherback researches on
ATV's. They called Kelly when they found a Leatherback & we raced to our cars & to find their location.

 

The Leatherbacks don't get spooked like the Loggerheads. The researchers did several measurements
& took blood samples while the turtle deposited her eggs.

 

We saw this turtle at around 2am on Sunday. We saw a turtle that was similar size on Saturday am.
Also saw several Loggerheads as we walked the beach at many different stages of nesting.

 

It was a wonderful experience. Very nice location if anyone is interested in going I would suggest
the Juno Beach Holiday Inn Express. There's also a Loggerhead Marine life Center that has a new
facility & is just getting off the ground in their new location.

 

As I understand from the experts the Leatherback nests should be starting to hatch soon & nesting is
coming to an end. The Loggerheads are still nesting & the Greens are starting to nest. This stretch
of beach did loose 60% of it's nests to those storms a couple of weeks ago.

 

Hope you all can make it over to the east coast to experience seeing a Leatherback.

They are truly beautiful turtles.

 

Cyndi