The release of Talbot yesterday (12/28/09) at the Cape Canaveral Sea Shore was successful!  With the support of the Georgia Aquarium, she was given a satellite transmitter prior to her release so we, and YOU, can follow his/her journey on seaturtle.org, just CLICK HERE!

Unfortunately Caton’s release yesterday was not successful. When placed on the sand, she did not take the initiative we expected to enter into the water. After giving her ample time to enter the sea on her own, we tried to assist her by bringing her a little farther out, however she became very lethargic and susceptible to the waves that kept pushing her back onshore. After 30 minutes of trying to release her, Dr. Norton did not feel comfortable with her behavior and decided to bring her back to the GSTC.

At this time, we are unsure as to why Caton reacted in this manner, nor do we know when we will try to release her once again, however it will unlikely be before the spring. We will continue to monitor her progress and, hopefully, get here released next spring/summer.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding!  On behalf of the GSTS Staff, we hope you have a safe and happy New Year!

Sincerely,
Stefanie Ouellette
Marine Field Programs Coordinator

Caton

Caton and Talbot, 2 loggerhead sea turtles, will be released on Monday December 28, 2009 from the Cape Canaveral National Sea Shore. The water temperatures are too cold in Georgia for a release this time of year; however, in the coastal waters of Cape Canaveral the temperatures are still safe and suitable for a release. The release site will occur around 12pm on a beach on the north end of Cape Canaveral Sea Seashore, on the south end of the Volusia side. Both turtles are doing great and ready to go to their ocean home.

Talbot

There have been 200 sea turtles that have stranded along the New England coast since Mid-October and 60 turtles are being housed in just a few facilities. These were all cold-stunned cases. Over the past 2 weeks North Carolina has seen numerous cold-stunned turtles and all of their facilities are filled to capacity. Releasing Caton and Talbot will free up some much needed space at the GSTC to make room for 4 green turtles, a kemps and a loggerhead, which will arrive on Tues of next week.

We apologize for the short notice and tricky timing within the holiday season. As will all releases, this release is open to the public and we hope to see you there! Thank you for your understanding and support with this situation.

~Terry M. Norton, DVM, Director and Veterinarian

Miss the last turtle release because you ate too much Shrimp and Grits to get to the beach?  Well, have no fear!  We’re having another turtle release next week during the 7th Annual Georgia’s Colonial Coast Birding & Nature Festival will take place October 8th-12th on Jekyll Island and along the GA coast!

Who are we releasing you ask?  TUNICATE and CATON!!!  Both sub-adult loggerhead sea turtles will be released with satellite transmitters attached to their carapace so we can track their journey as they enter back into the wild blue yonder.  From this data, we hope to gain valuable information about sea turtle behavior, foraging grounds and migration patterns.  CLICK HERE to learn more about satellite tracking!

TUNICATE

CATON

Caton received her transmitter on Thursday, October 1, and all went well.  Tunicate will be receiving his transmitter on Monday, October 5. We’ll begin this procedure at approximately 11am, and will be viewable through our treatment room window in our Exhibit Gallery!  So come on down!

This will most likely be our last turtle release until next spring since the ocean temperatures are quickly falling.  So DON’T MISS OUT! Here are all the details:

When: Friday, October 9, 2009

Time: 4pm

Where: On the beach, north side of the Convention Center, Jekyll Island, GA

*All releases are subject to change at any time (date, time, location) as determined by the GSTC staff, in the best interest of the turtles.

Shortly after their release, Tunicate and Caton will be available as an Option #2 adoption.  These funds will offset costs of satellite time and data management for the duration of time they transmit a signal.  Check our website for more information on our Adopt-a-Sea Turtle Program!

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Stefanie Ouellette

Marine Field Programs Coordinator

On September 20. 2009 at the end of Jekyll Island’s Annual Shrimp and Grits Festival, the GSTC successfully released 3 rehabilitated turtles back into the wild:

Pumpkin (loggerhead): Pumpkin received a satellite transmitter prior to her release.  CLICK HERE to follow her journey on seaturtle.org.  Soon you’ll also be able to adopt Pumpkin (as Option #2)!  Please visit our website for more information on our Adopt-A-Sea Turtle Program or to purchase and adoption!

Night Watch (loggerhead): Night Watch was too young/small to receive a satellite transmitter.  She still had a dorsal ridge down her carapace, and placing a transmitter would have been difficult, possibly not yield accurate data and potentially cause problems for Night Watch in regards to balance.  But she sure did let the crowd know her final thoughts as she made her way from the beach to the ocean!

and Skidaway (Kemp’s ridley): Skidaway was also too small to receive a satellite transmitter.  The transmitter would have been too big and heavy for such a small turtle!

We wish them all farewell and good luck!

Sincerely,
Stefanie Ouellette
Marine Field Programs Coordinator

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!

That’s right!  We are planning to release 3 turtles: Pumpkin, Night Watch and Skidaway on Sunday, September 20, 2009 during the last day of Jekyll Island’s Annual Shrimp and Grits Festival!

As most of you probably know, Pumpkin (LEFT), a sub-adult Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle, was supposed to be released on May 13, 2009 during our Annual Nest Fest event.   However, due to complications observed after the transmitter placement, we decided not to release Pumpkin, in his/her best interest.

Now that Pumpkin’s infections have cleared up and he/she has been taken off of antibiotics, has sunk to the bottom of her tank, and is eating normally, it’s time to let her go!  You’ll be able to track Pumpkin after his/her release on www.seaturtle.org (please be patient, it usually takes a few days for the tracking page to come up) and you’ll also be able to adopt Pumpkin as an Option #2 turtle through the GSTC’s Adopt-a-Sea Turtle Program! (*Option #2 adoptions help to offset additional costs attributed to the satellite transmitters after release. We have to pay for ’satellite time’ and data management for as long as the turtle transmits a signal!)

Night Watch (RIGHT), a young sub-adult Loggerhead sea turtle, is also ready for release.  She was found by the Georgia Bulldog (a sea turtle research vessel) and brought to the Center for care.  He/she has responded very well to treatment and is ready for release!

Night Watch will not be getting a satellite transmitter due to her size and prominent dorsal ridge that is still evident on her carapace (shell). This ridge is normal for loggerhead sea turtles of this size class, and with time, will eventually smooth out.  This ridge would require us to place the transmitter off-center and could yield in inaccurate data, not to mention potentially making the turtle feel ‘off balance’. Night Watch will still receive a final exam, flipper tags and a PIT tag.

And last, but not least, Skidaway.  Skidaway is a small, juvenile Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtle.  This is the rarest and most critically endangered species of sea turtle in the world!  Skidaway has been with us since June 2009 from the Tybee Marine Science Center.  Skidaway will also not be receiving a satellite transmitter due mostly to her size…the transmitter is too big and weighs too much for such a small turtle!  She will receive a PIT tag.

Details:

When: Sunday, September 20, 2009

Time: 3:00 pm

Location: North side of the Convention Center on Jekyll Island, GA

This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, space is first come, first serve!  So come on out and say good-bye and good luck with us to 3 wonderful patients!

Sincerely,
Stefanie Ouellette
Marine Field Programs Coordinator

*Please note that all releases are subject to change at any time (date, time, location, etc.) in the best interest of the turtle(s).

We’ve just added a new loggerhead sea turtle patient to our Adopt-a-Sea Turtle Program eligibility list (as Option #1)...Night Watch!

Night Watch was brought to the GSTC by the researchers upon the Georgia Bulldog, a retire shrimp trawler that has been converted into a sea turtle research vessel!  The crew on board the vessel had to ‘watch’ the turtle all ‘night’ until they could get it to the dock for transportation to the GSTC for care!

In addition to Night Watch, we have many other sea turtles eligible for adoption including:

Option #1:In-House Patients

CATON

TUNICATE

Option #2: Successfully Released Patients with a Satellite Transmitter

CLICK HERE to learn more about our Adopt-a-Sea Turtle Program!  Sea Turtle Adoptions make great gifts and educational projects for the classroom.  Don’t wait, adopt a turtle today!  You can purchase an adoption through our ONLINE STORE, downloading a FORM and sending by mail or fax, calling us at 912-635-4444 or visiting the Center!

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island is an operating department of the Jekyll Island Authority and receives financial contributions through the Jekyll Island Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All proceeds from Adoptions help to offset operation costs, including the rehabilitation of our patients at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

Thank you again for all of your support!

Sincerely,
Stefanie Ouellette
Marine Field Programs Coordinator

What a grand finale for an awesome week!  The morning began with some of us presenting a puppet show for a group of small children.  They were so receptive and fun and it was really nice to see how the information about sea turtles could be adapted to their level and attention span.  After a quick lunch we left for the beach because Dr. Schriver wanted to show us a “Crazy Crawl” from the night before.  Well, when we arrived at the beach, we did not see a crawl, but a “Sea of Teal” crossing the dunes with one of our favorite sea turtles, Camden!  The entire week we asked if there would be a release and everyone said that there probably would not, none of the turtles were ready, but the Turtle Crew surprised us and released Camden, a green sea turtle, back into the ocean. 

That seemed like enough fun for one day, but there was much more in store for us.  Next on the agenda was an Eco/Dolphin Tour.  While on the tour, we got to observe about 20 dolphins feeding along the south end of the island.  During the boat trip, the captain pointed out a beach that contained fossilized sharks teeth.  This led us to our next adventure, “Shark Tooth Beach”.  After a nice hike through the woods and marsh we finally made it to the beach and began our hunt.  Searching for the fossilized teeth could be compared to an oversized Easter egg hunt and in the end we were able to find a few teeth along with the shoes we had lost in the sinking mud.  

After cleaning off the marsh mud, it was time for our final dinner.  Alicia and Sarah joined us and we were presented with a teal turtle pin and certificates of gratitude for our work at the GSTC.  I personally thought we should have been presenting them with certificates of gratitude for all of their hard work and help to make this amazing experience possible.  While at dinner, Alicia mentioned that we should stop by the GSTC because they were receiving a new arrival from Florida.  A female loggerhead weighing over 200 pounds made the long journey from Cedar Key when she was spotted floating in the ocean by a teacher!  Being able to observe Dr. Norton and his staff work so hard and meticulously on the turtle was truly an incredible experience and the perfect ending for our wonderful week here on Jekyll Island!

~ Ella McAfee

our 2008 Patient of the Year is…

PUMPKIN!

As part of our 2 year anniversary celebration, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center hosted its second annual Patient of the Year contest. 132 votes were cast during the month of June to choose the 2008 Patient of the Year, a turtle that best represents our goal of rescue, rehabilitation and release! Guests had the opportunity to visit with patients still recovering in the hospital and learn about former patients in an ongoing presentation.

Last year’s winner (2007), Griffin the Loggerhead sea turtle, received an astounding 121 votes alone! As this year’s host of the contest, Griffin compiled a list of 24 eligible patients that have arrived since our first anniversary last June.

This year, Pumpkin captured the lead with 30 votes, followed closely by Camden with 20 votes and Tinkerbell with 16 votes. The three turtles chosen each represented a different species-Loggerhead, Green & Kemp’s Ridley. We like to keep things well-rounded here at the Center!

Pumpkin arrived in October 2008 suffering from debilitated turtle syndrome. Emaciated, severely anemic, covered with algae and saltwater leeches, Pumpkin remained in critical care for the first three months of her stay. Her red blood cell count bottomed out at 5% (healthy turtles and humans average 35%) and no turtle has survived with a count below 3%. Pumpkin was literally on death’s doorstep and we didn’t think she had the strength to recover. Procrit, a medication used in human cancer patients, was administered to Pumpkin to boost her red blood cell count. Slowly but surely, she made a full recovery and was set for release on June 13, 2009. After a stress reaction to the satellite transmitter placement, Pumpkin has been given additional time to recover and we hope to release her in the near future.

Camden, a Green sea turtle, arrived recently as part of a mass-stranding along the Atlantic coasts of Florida and Georgia. Slightly thin, Camden was fed heavy amounts of seafood and vegetables until he reached a healthy weight. Camden was released Friday as part of our annual teacher workshop.

Tinkerbell, the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, has been with us since December 2007. She was originally transferred with 6 other turtles from the New England Aquarium. All suffering from ‘cold stunning,’ a condition where ectothermic animals get too cold to function normally, the seven were treated and six subsequently released. Tinkerbell developed some secondary infections as a result of the cold stunning, including osteomyelitis (a bone infection) and flipper lameness. We are continuing with Tinkerbell’s physical therapy and hope for a full recovery.

Thank you for showing your unending support of our ‘turtle projects’ and for casting your heartfelt votes!

~ Kelly O’Keefe, Educator

The race began with an email, sent by family friend, Linsey Pilon, to my mother, Diane Noble. This is an extremely elaborated version:

Cold New England turtles are heading to warm Georgia! Two loggerheads, one green, and seven Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are going to be driven non-stop to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island.

Five of the ten turtles’ journeys began at the University of New England’s Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (MARC) in Biddeford, Maine. All five turtles were treated for cold-stunning, or hypothermia.*

Who were these fabulous five cold-stunned sea turtles? They were Denahi, Chiquita, Forest, Yoshi, and Petunia. All were originally washed ashore somewhere in Massachusetts (locations range), taken to the New England Aquarium in Boston, MA, and further transported to Biddeford, ME.

After their, “few month’s vacation from their wild lives” (rehabilitation), the turtles were brought back to the New England Aquarium. Why? They needed to pick up a few friends on their way to Jekyll Island, Georgia!

Route's release

Nine of the ten New England rehabilitated turtles were released on April 29^th, 2009. Route, a Kemps Ridley sea turtle, was not releasable at the time, but later released on May 30^th, 2009. For more information on Route, visit http://georgiaseaturtlecenter.org/our-patients/

Are you wondering why I turned my trip to Jekyll Island into a race with the turtles? I had been receiving email updates from Conservation International and National Geographic’ “The Great Turtle Race!” The satellite tagged leatherback sea turtles were tracked along their migration routes. When a turtle surfaced, the satellite transmitter on its back would send a signal to the satellite, and the turtle’s spokesperson would write a brief blurb about that particular turtle’s journey.

I was very excited to hear about the New England turtles’ trip to Jekyll Island because the excitement of The Great Turtle Race was still fresh for me. During my lengthy car ride, I thought about the turtles. How stressed would they be in the back of rescue vans? Were they as cramped as I was? Did they have any idea they were going to the free within 24 hours of arrival?

Another slice of my anxiety cake was that the turtles were coming from my hometown and my alma mater! It suddenly seemed like Jekyll Island, GA was the place to be. Even the turtles knew that! (My apologies for my anthropomorphisms.) Now that I am here on Jekyll Island, I understand why the turtles were sent here to flourish. The ocean is simply full of life! If I were a turtle, I would go where the food and the good accommodations (rock crevices) are. Wouldn’t you?

That completes my story of the race from New England to Georgia. I will have you know that the turtles arrived first and were released before I got to meet any of them, with the exception of Route. I suppose none of the cold stunned five wanted to share snowstorm stories, anyway.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Amanda Noble,

GSTC Sea Turtle Patrol Intern 2009

Have comments? Want to suggest a topic to me? Email me at amandanoble@me.com or add a comment to this BLOG. I will try to satisfy your requests for information by writing at http://georgiaseaturtlecenter.org/blog.

*Remember, turtles are reptiles. Their body temperatures are in direct correlation to their environments. If a strong current carries them too far north, they will be unable to keep themselves warm. Cold-stunning is exactly what it sounds like: the shutting down of the bodily functions due to extreme cold temperatures.