With the a new beach lighting ordinance soon to be in effect (amended in August 2008, grace period ends May 1, 2010), many Jekyll Islands residents and beachfront business owners came out for the 2010 “Sea Turtles and Lights” workshop held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center on March 17, 2010. Many approved turtle-friendly lighting distributors were in attendance to display their approved products and spread the word about wildlife-friendly lighting.

After Eric Garvey, Senior Director of Marketing, welcomed the participants, Dr. Terry Norton, GSTC Director and Veterinarian, kicked off the workshop with a presentation about the Georgia Sea Turtle Center; what it is, what we are all about, and what we’ve accomplished in 3 very short years. Next Mark Dodd, GADNR Sea Turtle Program Coordinator, brought us up to speed on sea turtle natural history and the research conducted on the Sidney Lanier Bridge’s turtle-friendly lighting.  To wrap up the program, GSTC Marine Field Programs Coordinator, Stefanie Ouellette, gave a educational presentation on understanding lights,how lights effect sea turtles and answered the question: What is a turtle-friendly light?

After the presentations wrapped up and all questions were answered, manufacturers/vendors from Wildlife Lighting LLC, Electro Elf, Acclaim Lighting, The Coppersmith, and Justice Design Group displayed their state-of-the-art, approved turtle-friendly products in eye-catching exhibits for the participants.

A few other manufacturers/vendors (Turtle Safe Lighting, Starry Night Lights, the Lighting Science Group and Eco Smart)  were unable to attend in person, but they did send us some sample products prior to the workshop to display.

You can find LINKS to these companies on our website, as well as many other links that might be helpful or interesting to you!  You can also visit our BEACH LIGHTING page on our website to learn and understand more about sea turtles and lights.

As successful as this workshop was, we are sure we can make the next one even better! Stay tuned for information regarding our next workshop coming up this summer…..

Sincerely,

The 2010 Sea Turtle Patrol Team

If anyone has been through the exhibit gallery recently you may have noticed that the sea turtle hatchling “AJ” isn’t in his usual tank side home. Instead you’ll find “Amy.” AJ is a straggler hatchling that was found here on Jekyll Island during a nest excavation the summer of 2007. He was brought into the Center, nicknamed #11 and spent the next two years here helping the Center educate our guests about the plight of sea turtles. He quickly became a staff and fan favorite and in 2009 we decided to name him AJ in honor and memory of the son of the former Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority, Bill Donohue.

As all children and baby animals are going to do, AJ quickly outgrew his home here at the Center and it became time for us to release him back to the wild. Working once again with the RV Savannah out of the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, staff took him to the Gulf Stream in the beginning of August. Once placed in the water AJ took off into the deep blue and didn’t look back! We all miss AJ, but please come say ‘hi’ to Amy , another juvenile loggerhead straggler hatchling that took his place in the gallery and is continuing to share the sea turtle story!

Hey Readers,

For those of you who haven’t stopped by the center in a while, a new mobile diamondback terrapin exhibit is now on display! As many of you are aware, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center does not only take care of sick and injured sea turtles, but we take care of other turtles as well. One in particular is found in the marsh, the diamondback terrapin.

During May-July female Diamondback terrapins frequently try to cross the causeway looking for a place to lay their eggs. Unfortunately, they are often hit by cars and then brought to the center for rehabilitation. In our efforts to spread the word about protecting this unusual species, the Georgia Sea Turtle staff and artist Raymond Rawls worked very hard to create two mobile displays teaching about the diamondback terrapin life history, the threats they face, and ways to help in their conservation. The exhibit includes amazing dioramas, diamondback fun fact flip doors, an ongoing scenic video, turn panels outlining various aspects of a terrapins life, a “plinko” style game where you drop coins onto a board to see if you (the coin) can make it past all the threats a terrapin can face and last but not least, a video game called Cohen’s Causeway Cross to test your “Frogger” like gaming abilities. It is up to you to get your terrapin safely across the road by strategically placing crossing signs, artificial nest mounds, and fencing along the road.

If it has been a while since you have visited the center, or even if you have never been before, the new exhibit is definitely worth the trip. Come check out Raymonds “green” design, and say hello to the patients while you are there!

Cheers,

The Rehabilitation Staff

Before your visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, be sure to download our new AUDIO TOUR! There are 13 different podcasts, recorded by the GSTC education staff, that coordinate with each of the exhibits around the center. The podcasts include new and exciting never before heard information about sea turtles that is not available on our exhibits. These podcasts can be downloaded to your computer and added to your mp3 player. You can find this audio tour at http://www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org/about-us/hours-admission/audiotour/

Liz Jeyes
Education Intern