Planning for Turtle Season
Baby turtles making their way to the water during a Loggerhead turtle nest hatching at Rainbow Beach. Photo: Danielle Bowden
Cooloola Coastcare is ramping up their TurtleCare project in readiness for the next turtle nesting season that commences around December 1 and runs through to the end of March 2021.
There are three ways to participate in TurtleCare:
Fully Trained Turtle Permit Holder:
To qualify, you must participate in free training for seven days at Mon Repos Turtle Research Centre between December 1 and March 30. It is an amazing experience. You’ll spend time on the beach each night watching turtles laying eggs, relocating nests, tagging turtles, observing hatchings and collecting data.
Camping is free onsite with a small contribution for meals prepared in the group kitchen.
Coastcare is looking for more volunteers who would like to attend training and help us look after the Cooloola turtles.
TurtleCare Turtle Track Spotter:
After a short briefing, you’ll be all set to identify turtle tracks on the beach and identify the turtle from those tracks while you get your daily exercise walking on the beach early in the morning. If you regularly walk on the beach, drive on the beach, say as a tour guide, or work on the beach catching bait worms or such, we would love to hear from you to be added to our list and participate in a briefing in late November.
Interested Bystander:
Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/turtlesrainbowbeach/
We’ll post regular updates and announce any special events like a daylight hatching, so you can see the little turtles make their way to the water.
Contact coordinator@cooloolacoastcare.org.au or call Lindy on 0478 039 322 to register your interest.
