Turtles in Port Hedland, why bother seeing them?
There are not many places in the world where you can walk along the beach and watch Flatback turtles nesting and in Port Hedland you can do that! Wow! what an incredible opportunity to see nature in action, the real thing is a thousand times better than a YouTube clip.
The turtle program in Port Hedland has been on my bucket list for a number of years, when I had the opportunity to teach in the Pilbara I thought this was my chance to see them. The nesting season is usually October to December and Hatchlings are from January to March. I was going in December.
I arrived in Port Hedland just in time to see the Christmas Night markets. The ‘Care for Hedland’ people were promoting their turtle monitoring program by educating the locals on how to care for the beaches. After chatting with the lovely ladies, I was invited to join the night crew on the beach to observe the turtle activity. I was very excited.
So, at 10.30pm, dressed in black clothing and with fingers crossed, hoping to see a turtle, I headed to Cemetery beach. I was introduced to the night crew and given strict instructions, no white lights, not even a phone torch, it has to be infra red light only and stay back behind the turtle where she can’t see me. The local shire turns the street lights off when the turtles are nesting, but your eyes soon adjust to the moonlight.
What to take turtle watching?
- Wear dark clothing if you go out at night to blend into the background.
- Comfortable shoes for walking in sand, you can be out a long time (hours).
- Insect repellent, I was covered in sandfly bites ouch!
- Water, as even at night it can be very hot in the Port Hedland summer.
- A headlight with a red beam.
- Energy snacks to keep you going all night.
- Phone or camera to capture this unforgettable moment.
- A light jacket incase it’s windy and cool.
- Lots of patience.
It wasn’t long before we got a call on the radio that another member of the team had spotted a turtle further up the beach and we were off. I saw the sand flying in every directions before seeing the turtle, but she was big, about one metre long, or 84cm to be exact. The Turtle volunteers measure the turtle, scan their electronic tag if they have one, or put one on their back flipper if they don’t, very carefully trying not to upset the turtle as she makes her way back to the beach. It is very important, though quick data collection.
Flatback Turtle digging a nest on Cemetery Beach.
Back to the safety of the sea. No eggs today!
Unfortunately, this turtle wasn’t happy and kept moving around trying to find the perfect spot with more sand flying everywhere each time. I was worried we had been too close, but was told the turtles do that all the time and sometimes they don’t lay any eggs and just go back to the sea.
Still waiting and hoping…
After two hours I was just about to give up, feeling disappointed I headed back towards the carpark, when right in front of me another turtle started heading up the beach! This turtle wasn’t so fussy and began digging her nest. The back flippers rotate backwards to make the hole then she lays her eggs, next her flippers go inwards to fill the hole. It was the most amazing thing to see, lying face down on the sand behind her, watching her lay about 50 eggs the size of golf balls I was so eager to see I nearly fell head first into the nest with the eggs.
The turtle laying her eggs in the hole she just dug.
As the sun was coming up, I took a few photos of turtle tracks and kept an eye out for any early hatching turtles.
But no hatchlings, the morning turtle people said the hatchlings are 2 or 3 weeks away…. mmmm I just might have to return.
Turtle Tracks
The stunning Port Hedland sunrise.
Turtle in Port Hedland part 2 …. The life cycle continues …
Well, three weekends later, I returned hoping to see some hatchlings emerge from the nest and make the mad dash to the sea.
On Friday evening, I arrived just in time for the Hedland Care for Turtles tour, on Cemetery beach. So much amazing info about these turtles and another opportunity to see more turtles digging and laying eggs. She returns every second year to her birth place to lay her eggs and only when it high tide. Contact Care for Hedland by email turtle@careforhedland.org.au or website https://careforhedland.org.au
Will there be hatchlings …
The hatchling will start to emerge from the egg 2-3weeks later depending on the temperature of the earth, usually in the morning when the sun warms the ground and there is a high tide.
Saturday morning at sunrise, I headed back to the beach, and as luck would have it (plus the volunteers had already spotted some), I saw 3 hatchlings.. so tiny and cute.
Hatching turtles racing to the sea.
A little help from my friend.
Turtle nest.
A busy night.
Recording the date of birth.
It’s very tempting to give them a lift to the sea, especially when they are stuck in a footprint in the sand, but scientists believe they need to get to the sea themselves so they know where to come back to lay their eggs 20 years later.
Only 1 hatchling made it to the sea, with a bit of help… it was so close. The other two died of exhaustion, stuck in holes (footprints) and couldn’t get out
. That’s why it is so special to witness this as it’s not everyday you see turtles nesting and hatchlings emerging from their nest.
. That’s why it is so special to witness this as it’s not everyday you see turtles nesting and hatchlings emerging from their nest.From the 50 eggs, not many turtles make it, they get cooked in the shell if it’s too hot ( global warming is effecting them) eaten by birds and lizards, as they try to get to the sea, then if they survive the next 20 years they come back to nest.
If they make it adulthood they’re living the dream.. no natural predators.. not even sharks, just boat propellers and plastic rubbish.
What a fantastic morning… I didn’t take many photos, sometimes it’s better to put the camera down and enjoy the moment.
If you are hanging around Port Hedland…
Here are some things to see and do in Port Hedland https://sole-traveller.com/is-there-anything to-do-or-see-in-port-hedland
Safe travels,
Jo