Nagle College from Geraldton visits Gnaraloo

On Monday, 3 December 2012, we received our second school group, Nagle Catholic College from Geraldton, at Gnaraloo to participate with the Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program (GTCP). This is Nagle’s second field excursion to Gnaraloo, the first of which occurred during the previous GTCP season 2011/12.

The group comprised of 3 teachers and 10 students, Year 12 (Biology, Earth Sciences and Chemistry). Once they arrived and were settled, we gave a presentation about the program, including turtle biology and life cycle, preliminary data and findings, the recent loggerhead turtle rescue in the Gnaraloo Bay Rookery and information about the Gnaraloo Feral Animal Control Program which targets protection of turtle eggs and hatchlings.

Inclement stormy weather and a lightning storm prevented the group from joining the Day Survey on 4 December 2012, but they were able to participate with the data collection surveys on 5 – 7 December 2012. The kids were feeling very energetic and decided to walk the entire length of the study area at Gnaraloo Bay (a 14 km round trip) during their first survey and we were fortunate to see 7 turtle nesting activities (3 Nests and 4 U Tracks) on the beach. On Thursday, 6 December 2012, the weather held again with only 7 knot winds and no clouds. It was a busy morning with 17 nesting activities, including 7 new turtle nests in the Gnaraloo Bay Rookery. The group was split into two, one group completing the first Sub-section of the survey (GBN – BP7) and the second group completing the last two Sub-sections (BP7 – BP9). There was plenty of opportunity to learn field observation skills, survey techniques, operation of GPS equipment and to participate with data collection. Each group was provided with their own monitoring data sheets to fill in so that when we came across a new turtle nesting activity the kids were asked to try and identify the turtle species and to determine the particular nesting activity, i.e. a nest, unsuccessful nesting attempt, U Track or unidentified activity.

The group thoroughly enjoyed their experiences with turtle tracking under the program and said they had a great time even though it was early morning and long walks! They departed for their drive back to Geraldton on Friday, 7 December 2012.

We’d like to thank Mike Francis, Sarah Baker, Danny Bowen and the Nagle students for a great week which we found a pleasure to host.

Hello to Mikala, Sam, Soph, Khallen, Peter, Louise, Tenae and Abbie – come visit us again!

We hope that Nagle College continues to participate with the GTCP again during next season!

Justine