 |
Join A Florida Sea Turtle Watch
|
|
|||||||||
|
Since most endangered species live in remote, out-of-the-way places, it's rare to view endangered animals roaming freely on their home turf. Sea turtles, however, are a remarkable exception. From May to September, female turtles of up to 2,000 pounds ponderously crawl ashore night after night on beaches throughout the Southeast but especially Florida, the major nesting area. The nesting grounds are easy to reach and don't require a great deal of effort or expense, unlike many other places such as Caribbean. Each turtle has the same single-minded goal: to bury its eggs in a nest and return to the sea Witnessing
a nesting turtle is a remarkably complete lesson
in species survival.
An Emotional Experience
Once a turtle has finished excavating its nest, it is one of the most single-minded animals on earth. Raccoons may dig out and destroy her eggs while she is still depositing them, but an egg-laying turtle always perseveres, never stopping for any reason.
It's as if she is the only remaining survivor of her race, and that her successful nesting is the only thing that matters in the world.
Listen To The Sounds Of Nesting Turtle
For most people, the sights and the sounds of the nesting process are a memorable experience that never completely leaves them. If you doubt, listen to the sounds of a leatherback turtle as it deposits its eggs. The recording was made by the Marinelife Center of Juno Beach. Watching a nesting sea turtle is both haunting and compelling, something everyone should see at least once in their life. Return
to Sea Turtle Homepage
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||