Mon Repos Turtle Rookery

We visited the Mon Repos Turtle Rookery last Tuesday night and had a wonderful experience with the Loggerhead Turtles of Bargara.    http://www.bookbundabergregion.com.au/

The Mon Repos (my rest) Beach

The Loggerhead Eggs

Egg Laying

The Turtle Experience starts out by watching a video with the history of the turtles at Mon Repos and how the Queensland Government is working hard to conserve this area for the turtles to continue their quest to procreate, just as they've done for thousands and thousands of years. The season for the laying and hatching of eggs goes from November to March, with almost a constant delivery of females laying and hatchlings hatching from January to March. We witnessed the hatching of eggs, but a group just after us got to see the female laying her eggs. You don't know what, if anything, you're going to get to see the night you're there, and one group will see one thing and the next something else. If you are able to hang around, you may be able to go out and see the other activity.

The hatchlings emerge from their nest, where the date of laying has been recorded by the scientists who work at Mon Repos, and they need to get to the ocean by moonlight to imprint their internal "GPS" for that beach. With the development of the Bargara beach area, the light pollution has confused the little turtles and they can head in the wrong direction or toward the road, instead of toward the water. 

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/mon-repos/cut-the-glow.html

The rangers are constantly monitoring the beach for the emergence of the turtles and direct them to the water by shining a flashlight in the general direction of the ocean. This becomes part of the turtle experience for the visitors as the rangers allow the guest to stand with the legs open and the baby turtles walk between them following the light they are shining.

The idea that this process has been happening for time eternal is awe inspiring. The females have been monitored for almost 70 years and they stay fertile well into their 70's. This area has the greatest number of Loggerhead Turtles laying eggs and returning season after season. Loggerhead Turtles are endangered. They are seen in other parts of the Pacific Ocean but this is the epicenter of the breeding. Green Turtles and Flatback Turtles also procreate here, but they are not endangered species.

http://www.southerngreatbarrierreef.com.au/turtle-season-november-to-march

Watch for our kangaroo sightings.....oh yea, we haven't seen any.

Good thing Scout's not here!