Bundeberg, Queeensland was another wonderful experience. This city of 49,000 was where we went to see the loggerhead sea turtles nesting on the beaches at night. These are Ranger guided tours after dark, for only a small fee. We were allocated to a group at the centre and when the spotters on the beach radioed the centre we were given very precise instructions as to what the rules were for viewing. The goal was to allow the turtles to do their nesting with as little interference as possible. We were not to have any lights, and not to be in front of the laying turtle til she had laid at least 10 eggs. Then it seemed that she was committed to her duty and would barely notice us. At least that is what the turtle Doctor assured everyone as he proceeded to perform an ultrasound on her as she laid the eggs. All for research.
This particular turtle was 85 to 95 kg and measured approx 40'' (her shell). She laid 104 eggs and because she had nested too close to the tidal menace, we all helped move her eggs to another sand nest dug by a volunteer.
These turtles don't mature til 30 yrs old, this one was 35 years old.
We went while it was still light to take pictures of the surroundings
Here she is busy laying her eggs. She will lay another 3 times this year. She has a store of sperm from the male encounter and they will fertilize the other eggs that she will lay the next times.
The back of her as she covers the eggs with sand
Her eggs as they are removed by the ranger to be transported a few feet up on the beach
Children carrying the eggs to the new nest
Irene even helped
Enjoy. We were not allowed to photograph while she laid.
