Help Us Name the Wise Old Sea Turtle !
- Veta Wade
- Feb 18
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 7
Have you ever wondered about the secret life of a sea turtle? Last summer, our turtle surveys were quite the adventure! Picture this: every morning, we’d gear up for two hours of snorkeling in pristine sea, recording everything we could see. I even got to teach some enthusiastic teenagers how to conduct surveys, and we had a few guests join in the fun, too. We spotted lots of stingrays gliding gracefully through the seagrass, which was super cool! Here's a highlight video of our 2024 survey season.
While I’ll still be the project leader this year, I’m on the lookout for a research assistant to help lead the survey—someone who can drive, since I did way too much driving around last year! Being reliable and proactive is handy too :)
The visibility was pretty good most days, but the Old Road Isles Bay transect had its challenges. We experienced some murky spots, likely due to the movement of volcanic ash in the sea or runoff from the main Belham River that leads to the volcano. It made it tough to see all the amazing underwater life we usually encounter.
But enough about last year’s adventures—2025 is shaping up to be even more exciting! During the last nesting season, we spotted our elder Critically Endangered Hawkskbill sea turtle near the Clubhouse. They’re like “Help! I’m on my last leg” ⚠️ These species are waving red flags and need our superhero conservation powers! They face a threat of extinction, as globally thier population is low.
We believe she’s been around for several seasons, but we never took note of her presence before we starting doing the surveys. This year, we’re determined to track if she comes back, when she arrives, and how her condition is. It would be super cool to satelitte tag her ( these tags cost ~ $3k USD!!) to find out where she travels after leaving our shores!
So, What Should We Call Her?
This turtle is quite the recluse, just sitting there like she’s the queen of the ocean. I can’t help but wonder about her story. Is she still doing alright? If you’ve seen her? When she arrives back to Montserrat, wherelse she hangs out while she's here, when exactly she nests, and when does she leave our island. I'm really so facinated by the hidden life of sea turtles. I’d love to hear what you think we should call her!
Celebrating World Wetlands Day
Oh, and did you know today is World Wetlands Day? It’s a great reminder of how crucial these habitats are for our turtles. They’re so dependent on coastal wetlands for nesting and feeding, and these lush areas keep our oceans clean. It’s all connected, and it’s our job to help protect it!
Let’s Make a Difference Together!
We all have a part to play, and one simple way to help is by cutting back on plastic. Let’s swap out single-use items for reusable ones—small changes can lead to big impacts!
### Join Us for Turtle Surveys!
If you’re as passionate about sea turtles as I am, come join us for some turtle surveys! It’s a fun way to get involved while soaking up the sun at our beachside clubhouse.
Want to join Us for Turtle Surveys?
If you’re as passionate about sea turtles as we are, come join us for some turtle surveys! It’s a fun way to get involved while soaking up the sun at our beachside clubhouse.
If you’re looking for a unique experience, check out Workaway! It’s a fantastic way to meet like-minded ocean lovers while helping with our turtle conservation efforts.
And if you’re up for an adventure, you can stay with us for just $75 a night! You’ll get comfy accommodations, tasty meals, and the chance to help with our surveys while enjoying the beach vibes.
Support Our Sustainability Efforts!
If you’d like to contribute to the sustainability of our projects, people can donate via paypal if they want to help out. Supporting my newsletter would also be a great way to contribute and stay updated on our activities!
Artisan Hub at the Clubhouse!
But that’s not all! Our clubhouse is also an artisan hub where you can get creative! Whether you want to experiment with science communication or just let your artistic side shine, we’ve got a space for that.
Creative Corner!
In the creative corner, I’m sharing a picture of a drawing of a map of one of our transects from our training surveys. For those who don’t know, a transect is basically a straight line or path along which we count and record everything we see ---- in our case, that all sea turtles and stingrays. I tried to get others to join in on the artistic side of things, but most were focused on the actual survey data collection and didn’t have time for the fun stuff. Guess that’s just what I’m into!
Why not join us this year to ensure our wise old Hawksbill—and all her turtle pals—keep thriving in their beautiful home! If you have any thoughts or just want to chat about your adventures, drop me a line. I can’t wait to hear from you!
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