Picasso the Gopher Tortoise

The Annual Fall Service Kick-Off event is a time when AmeriCorps programs across the state have the opportunity to come together for a day of service and share in the AmeriCorps spirit. As the AmeriCorps GSTC team prepared to head to Atlanta, there was plenty of anticipation and excitement. There wasn’t however, the expectation of bringing a patient back with them. That is, until the phone rang….

A veterinarian in Albany called the center with a gopher tortoise that had been brought to him in pretty poor condition. He consulted with Dr. Norton and it was decided that the tortoise needed medical care that only the GSTC could provide. The question then became how we get the tortoise from Albany to Jekyll Island.

In a shining example of true AmeriCorps spirit, the Albany Police Cadets, led by Denise Barnes, rose to the challenge and came to the tortoises’ aide. With some guidance from center staff, Denise and her team met with the veterinarian Friday night and transported the tortoise to the Fall Service Kick-Off event Saturday where she met with the AmeriCorps GSTC team.

After an initial triage in a storage closet of the service site the tortoise was tucked in for the day before the long drive back to Jekyll. During the day of service, the AmeriCorps GSTC team was part of the painting crew that was helping to paint murals. The GSTC team was inspired by their service and decided to name the tortoise Picasso.

After a long drive back and spending the night at staff member Jeannie Miller’s house due his critical condition, Picasso finally arrived at the center Sunday morning. Once Picasso got to the center, he received a complete medical evaluation, including x-rays, fluids, antibiotics and tube feeding. Picasso is very severely impacted, emaciated, and likely has multiple infections. Although, his condition is still very critical, the staff and members of the GSTC are fighting to give him every chance possible at recovery.

This one small tortoise and his extra large journey is just one example of the extraordinary impact that AmeriCorps members throughout the nation make on a daily basis.

~ Jeannie Miller AmeriCorps program Coordinator

We have read and listened to your comments & suggestions.  We have discussed our options.  Finally the GSTC is proud to announce, due to popular demand, that we now offer an admission discount to:

Active Duty Military Personnel

Students AND Teachers!

That’s right, you’ll all get $1 off admission price to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center when you present your respective ID.  So you’ll pay $5 instead of $6 when you visit our Center! Who can pass up a deal like that?!

Stroll through our amazing Exhibit Gallery and live the life of a sea turtle; watch our Veterinarian and/or his staff treat our patients through a viewing window looking into our treatment room;  listen to one of our daily programs, visit our patients in the hospital and learn all about why they are here!  Teachers can learn about the different programs the GSTC offers school groups, whether you bring your class here or we come to you! And did you know that all of our programs correspond to the Georgia Performance Standards?

There so much to see at the GSTC! Don’t delay, visit today!

Hope to see us soon!

Sincerely,
Stefanie Ouellette
Marine Field Programs Coordinator

(All proceeds from admissions, special programs, gift shop/online store, Adopt-a-Sea Turtle, Memberships, and Brick sales are used to support the Georgia Sea Turtle Center)

Join us for turtle-inspired Halloween fun!

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center presents
3rd annual Turtleween

Saturday, October 24th from 12-4pm

The GSTC will host a variety of turtle-inspired crafts, games and activities on the Center’s front lawn.
Our special guest,
the Center for Wildlife Education at Georgia Southern, will be on hand with
snakes, creepy crawlers and birds of prey.

Sea you there!

Picking up where Darwin left off:

Studies on the Symbiotic Barnacles of Sea Turtles.

Two decades before he received international notoriety from the publication of ‘On the Origin of Species’, Charles Darwin was recognized as the imminent authority on barnacles. A group of these calcium-shelled crustaceans particularly interested him and helped seed his interest in evolutionary theory. This group is now commonly referred to as ‘turtle barnacles’ and, relatively little has been learned of this interesting group of barnacles in the 125 years following the publication of Darwin’s barnacle monograph.

For the last twelve years Michael Frick has studied this highly symbiotic group of barnacles and has gained some interesting insights into their taxonomy and life history as sea turtle companions. The biology of turtle barnacles is intricately intertwined with the biology of their sea turtle hosts, and as a result, turtle barnacles have evolved some interesting means by which to stay attached to turtles – surprisingly with little or no effect to their hosts. The current focus presentation will examine the variety of turtle barnacles known to date, and what species of turtles they adhere to. It will also illustrate how these animals may help us to understand certain aspects about sea turtle natural history and biology.

Monday October 26, 2009  7:00 p.m.

St. Simons Casino Room 114

530 Beachview Dr # A

St Simons Island, GA 31522

(912) 638-8234

AmeriCorps members: Simon Dilts, Jennifer Breehl, Jessica Self, Ashley Raybould, Renee Pascale, and Melissa Quinn Daniel

A lot of exciting things have been happening at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC) this year. After a flurry of activity by our veterinary, education and research departments to prepare ourselves, we welcomed eight full-time members the second week of September as our first AmeriCorps class.

The first week was spent orienting members in topics such as the goals of the GSTC, completing paperwork, gaining insight of activities in GSTC’s various departments, first aid and CPR training, a CNCS Ethic of Service curriculum, and completing more paperwork.. Also during orientation, members had the opportunity to shadow the departments of the GSTC that they wouldn’t be directly serving in to get a better understanding of how everything worked. Throughout the week, Members participated in all of the center’s educational programs. During one program, husbandry member Jessica Thompson was transformed into a sea turtle! She struck a pose and AmeriCorps Next Top Model GSTC was born.

Jessica Thompson, an AmeriCorps Husbandry member, strikes a pose during the Amazing Adaptation program!

Shortly after members arrived, so did a new green sea turtle patient! As a surprise treat, the AmeriCorps team got to name the newest patient! They decided to name him “Ed.” They chose this name because he will be used to educate the public and was exhibiting neurologic symptoms similar to Ed from the movie “The Lion King.”

Ed, the Green Sea Turtle

One of the highlights of orientation week was members participation in the release of three of the center’s patients during a public event on Jekyll Island beach. The members’ character and enthusiasm sparkled as they jumped right in carrying signs and talking to the public about sea turtles and their amazing stories.

Education member Melissa Quinn Daniel carries a sign during the release!

The members’ first week spent at the GSTC gave everyone a preview of the spirit and excitement ahead during this service year!

~ Jeannie Miller, AmeriCorps Programs Coordinator