Turtle Journal

Sue Wieber Nourse:  Female (Left) and Male (Right) 

On Monday, May 7th, Sue Wieber Nourse took advantage of a light southwest breeze, bright sunshine and temperature in the low sixties to paddle Sippican Harbor in search of Northern Diamondback Terrapins.  A week of chilled temperatures and overcast skies had driven SouthCoast terrapins back into brumation. She netted two adult terrapins.  Sue snagged a 6-year-old adult male that had never been caught before.  Sue also netted a 14-year-old female terrapin that we had first observed on July 2nd, 2005 as a prepubescent, 7-year-old. 

Sue Wieber Nourse Captures Terrapin Pair from Kayak

The Sippican Harbor population of terrapins has been studied by the Turtle Journal team since spring 2003 when its existence was first confirmed.  In the ten research seasons since then, we have estimated an at risk population of under 100 adult terrapins resides in the Sippican estuary.  With those dramatically depressed numbers, few juvenile “recruits” are seen by researchers.  So, there is little opportunity to follow a prepubescent female through her lifecycle to maturity in order to gain insight into a growth model for Buzzards Bay terrapins.  Based on the significantly larger size of mature females in Buzzards Bay compared to those observed in Cape Cod Bay, Wellfleet Bay and Pleasant Bay terrapin populations, we had assumed that Sippican turtles would demonstrate a steeper growth curve.  Yet, the challenge in such a small and aging population was acquiring confirmatory data.

Male #1039 (Left) and Key Female Recapture #283 (Right)

That’s what made Sue’s capture of Terrapin #283 so special.  This turtle was first captured as a prepubescent female in 2005 when she was aged at 7 years old.  She measured 14.71 centimeters (cm) carapace length and 12.81 cm plastron length; she weighed 487 grams back then.  On Monday, now at 14 years of age, she had grown to 20.45 cm carapace length and 18.35 cm plastron length; she weighed 1400 grams.  These latter numbers would be representative of nearly a 40 year old terrapin in the Cape Cod Bay population.

 

Cape Cod Bay Growth Chart (Post-2002 Research Season)

As indicated in this chart from our comprehensive 2003 report on Northern Diamondback Terrapins in Cape Cod Bay, we had measurements on 100 individual prepubescent females positively aged at 7.  The average carapace length, plastron length and weight were 13.76 cm, 12.19 cm and 476.48 grams.  At 7 years old, Sippican Terrapin #283 was only a few % points larger than the Cape Cod average and well within expected deviation for a prepubescent female of that age.

For the 2003 report, we had 26 mature Cape Cod Bay females positively aged at 14.  The average carapace length, plastron length and weight were 18.17 cm, 16.30 cm and 1033.24 grams.  At 14 years old, Sippican Terrapin #283 is already more than 12.5% larger and weighs 35% more than the average Cape Cod 14-year-old female.  In fact, very few Cape Cod terrapins ever attain a 20 cm length; if they did, it would be at about 40 years of age.

Key Terrapin #283 (14-Year-Old Female)

While we had assessed for some time that mature female terrapins in Buzzards Bay were 10% to 15% larger than their Cape Cod Bay counterparts, #283 marks one of the first Sippican females to provide confirmation of the steeper female growth curve required to attain this significantly larger size.

 Sue Wieber Nourse Paddles Sippican Harbor

With a tiny, at risk population that produces few juvenile recruits, it’s not an easy chore to acquire key specimens to fill in the data gaps to confirm or refute hypotheses.  Thanks to Sue’s capture of Terrapin #283, some of those data holes can begin to be closed.  Turtle Journal will continue to search for such important finds during the 2012 season, while we try to reverse the downward trend of the Sippican Harbor population in order to stem extirpation of Northern Diamondback Terrapins from this Buzzards Bay estuary.

Turtles Create Wonder

Traycie gets up close and personal with a baby painted turtle during the “Turtles Gone Wild” extravaganza at the Wareham Free Library on Thursday evening, May 3rd.

Don Lewis — The Turtleguy

Families, friends, neighbors, conservationists, naturalists and curious guests filled seats set up and arranged in advance by staff of the library, Mass Audubon and Wareham Lands Trust; all sponsors of the event.

“Turtles Gone Wild” Preview @ Wareham Free Library 

The Turtle Journal Team played to a full and eager house of kids of all ages.  As with all Turtle Journal presentations, the real excitement of the night was driven by the chance for people to engage with nature virtually through captivating imagery and physically through the presence of live specimens … in moments that can only be termed as “transformational.”

What is it that turtles do?

Turtles Stir Awe

Turtles Bring Families Together

Turtles Spark Surprise

Turtles Offer Peaceful Reflection

Turtles Make Lifelong Friends

Turtles Inspire Dreams

Turtles Spur Discovery

Turtles Build Community

And, yes; turtles build communities.  When these special critters are discovered, neighbors come together first to learn about them, then to save their very own local species.  In that simple act, communities are formed and strengthened, and a conservation ethos ensures a more natural neighborhood.  Pictured immediately above is Cat Honkenen who has been documenting the endangered Northern Red-Bellied Cooter that she discovered in her local pond; see Endangered Red-Bellied Cooters Emerge in Wareham.  She and her neighbors are now organizing to identify and protect nesting locations, and to ensure their local population is preserved.

Massachusetts Turtle Bouquet

Through the magic of digital media, Don Lewis and Sue Wieber Nourse — the Turtle Journal Team — will transform the Wareham Free Library into a reptilian paradise, so kids from 5 to 105 can experience first-hand the hair-raising excitement of adventure and discovery. You’ll cast off the ordinary world of bricks and mortar, climb inside a dazzling sound and light show, and unleash your inner explorer.

Turtle Journal Team:  Don Lewis and Sue Wieber Nourse

You’ll watch as turtles wake from winter slumber, bask in bright spring sunshine and turn thoughts to creating the next generation of reptiles. You’ll hide in camouflage to observe female turtles trek across impossible obstacles to reach nesting sites and deposit egg clutches representing the future of threatened turtles on the SouthCoast. You’ll fast-forward as hatchlings emerge from the sand to take their first breath as they scramble to safety. You’ll uncover secrets about what makes these shelled critters such wild and wonderful telltale species of our natural world. As turtle populations tumble, so goes the quality of life around us. As turtles prosper, so does the richness of our own world, too

One Ton Leatherback Sea Turtle Entangled in Buoy Line

Along our ocean coast, you’ll come face to face with five species of sea turtles that frequent Massachusetts waters. You’ll rescue a half ton leviathan, a massive female leatherback, entangled in buoy lines and fighting for her life. You’ll patrol storm tossed beaches to rescue hundreds of the most endangered sea turtles in the world

Turtle Commentary (Male Diamondback Terrapin)

“Psst! Listen up, humans. The Turtle Journal Team will be presenting a virtual extravaganza called ‘Turtles Gone Wild’ at the Wareham Free Library on May 3rd at 6:30 pm. I even hear through the reptile grapevine that a couple of my turtle pals will be on hand to make sure these mammals get things right. You know mammals. Some say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Others like us know that beauty and intelligence are intrinsic qualities inherent in all reptiles and sadly lacking in younger, less developed species like mammals. It’s not really their fault. How can you blame youth for immaturity? We reptiles have dominated Earth for hundreds of millions of years, while modern humans have barely seen 100,000 trips around the sun. Still, it will be amusing to see how Don and Sue tell the exciting story of turtles of the SouthCoast. ‘Turtles Gone Wild,’ indeed. Listen to these characters and judge for yourself who really represents the intelligent species.”

Don Lewis serves as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts. Also known as “The Turtle Guy,” Don’s research and rescue exploits have been featured on National Geographic TV and his work has been profiled in books on global animal rescue, endangered wildlife management and habitat preservation.

Sue Wieber Nourse, research scientist and master educator, is CEO of Cape Cod Consultants, an environmental solutions company specializing in wildlife management and critical habitat assessments that protect nature while expeditiously enabling client objectives. An intrepid adventurer, Sue led underwater research projects from the Canaries through the Caribbean Sea to the Hawaiian Islands, and from the Florida Keys through the Bahamas to Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod and the Gulf of Maine.

Their original nature stories and professional wildlife photography have appeared in newspapers, magazines and broadcast media locally, across the nation and around the globe. Don and Sue document the nature of coastal Massachusetts on their web site, Turtle Journal (www.turtlejournal.com), and they share real-time adventures directly from the wild on Twitter (www.twitter.com/turtlejournal).

Painted Turtle Hatchling

Yes, it’s true.  The Turtle Journal Team is composed of hard-nosed scientists, the kind of just-the-fact-ma’am investigators that would have made Sergeant Joe Friday proud.  Still, no matter how focused our researchers may be, we have the privilege to spend our days in the most beautiful habitats in the world, observing the most exquisite species that Nature has devised.  So, who could be surprised when our morning began with the discovery of a gorgeous, half dollar sized painted turtle hatchling hiding in a wetlands path?  Then, as we walked along the swamp pond bordering the Great Heron Rookery, it seemed as though Claude Monet had spent the night splashing the morning canvas with Impressionist colors contorted in Daliesque shapes.  Enjoy!

 Three Painted Turtles

 

 Two Painted Turtles

One Painted Turtle

Adult Male Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

Torrential rain and mild temperatures swept the SouthCoast on Sunday night into Monday morning.  After weeks of drought, humid air offered a welcome break for wildlife.  Turtle Journal walked out to the Great Blue Heron rookery this morning.  As Sue Wieber Nourse and Rufus followed the narrow path between mucky wetlands and swampy pond, they spotted a broiling underwater commotion obscured in the brownish murk.

 

Mating Pair of Snapping Turtles

Barely identifiable in the image above, a pair of snapping turtles explored amorous intentions.  Tails fully entangled in the bottom of the photograph, and heads faced each other with mouths agape, the twosome undulated a foot below water surface.  The male snapper whom we encountered later on the pathway was recognizable on top through the bumps on his carapace.

“Smiling” Male Snapping Turtle after Mating Engagement

A few minutes later, when they returned from a survey of the distant edge of the pond, Rufus bolted to attention and alerted Sue to a large still object at the edge of the path.  Sue identified the adult male snapping turtle who a few moments earlier had been engaged in an energetic Texas two-step with a young female. 

Sue Wieber Nourse and Rufus Discover Mating Snappers

This male snapper weighed about 25 pounds and he seemed to be taking a snooze after the passionate exchange.   He sported impressive claws nearly as thick as human fingers and he reared up high in powerful display of his dominance.  “Leave me alone!”

Male Snappng Turtle Celebrates with Break Dance

Somehow our snapper friend got flipped over in his exuberant display of fierceness.  As he used his noggin to right himself again, the sequence looked like a comical cartoon break dancer.  Turtle Journal couldn’t resist putting the moment to music and motion.

Male Snapping Turtle Returns to the Water

Once right-side up again, this snapper had had enough of human and canine interaction.  He furiously stiff-legged his way back to the edge of the path and took a nose dive into the pond.  Within seconds, he had disappeared into the dark murkiness, a bit like Jaws escaping Quint by diving deep into the ocean darkness.  It does give you pause, though, about what might lie beneath the placid waters of your local swimming hole.  You remember, of course, the tag line for Jaws 2:  “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.”