Sandy Cape Turtle Census 2011

I was lucky enough to be one of the volunteers helping with this year’s turtle census on Fraser Island. I flew to Hervey Bay on Monday 12 December and stayed overnight with friends (Rachel and Andrew) who used to live in the Grampians. It was nice to catch up with them and their three sons (Xavier, Derby and Alexander). Tuesday 13 December Rachel dropped Andrew and I off at the Marine Park depot with our bags and our eskies full of food for the next 6 days and nights, as where we would be staying is a long way from the nearest shops. Along with another ranger Bec and volunteer Sue we caught the 10.15am vehicular barge from Riverheads Hervey Bay across to Wanggoolba Creek on Fraser Island. The four of us would then drive across Fraser Island to Eurong where we would pick up the last of our party, John (Ranger-in-Charge of south Fraser Island).

Most of the staff based at Eurong fly in and out each day but as we had a week’s worth of clothing and supplies and needed to get a vehicle to Sandy Cape flying wasn’t an option. (Picture is of one of the planes they fly to and from work in). From Eurong it would be mostly beach driving as the majority of the beach is drivable 2 hours either side of low tide. We only spotted one Dingo, which is good, as they have become too used to begging for food from tourists which isn’t good for them or for the tourists.

We were going really well until we got to Ngkala Rocks where you have to leave the beach and head into the deeper sand. Unfortunately this coincided with meeting another ranger coming the other way. I think our driver may have become a little distracted at this point as we became bogged. An impatient tourist then pulled up behind us and said he would winch us out, in fact insisted. In the process he almost went over the edge of a small cliff! I decided watching two sea eagles cruising overhead was better viewing but unfortunately didn’t manage to get a decent photo despite them coming pretty close as every time I looked at the display screen on the camera all I could see was my hot face staring back at me.

We finally arrived at our destination around 4.30/5pm In time to unload, get a briefing from Aub (guy in charge of the census) cook dinner, eat and head out at about 7.45pm.

The lightstation is fully automated now but there is a small weather station there that appears to be manned by volunteers. There are two houses both apparently constructed from asbestos sheeting and so lots of asbestos warning signs everywhere. It was basic accommodation but with lots of fridge and freezer room for the food and better than camping out at this time of year. (There was room for 4-6 people in each house).

The first night two volunteers who had already done a 6 day stint took one vehicle and did the “south” beach, which was the quieter beach while four of us squeezed into a vehicle with Aub to get some more instruction on how to measure, tag and (for Loggerheads) relocate the eggs. As the Loggerhead turtles are in much smaller numbers their eggs are moved into Dingo and Goanna proof cages to increase their chances of hatching in a couple of months time. Of course when we got out to measure and tag at one stage it absolutely poured and we all got soaked. Just as well it was still warm as it would have been a long cold night otherwise. All the photos that aren’t mine were taken by my friend Andrew.

At night the beaches were covered with ghost crabs which always seemed to make for the car. I told the others they were aliens and they thought the car was the mothership. I think they thought I was weird :-) On our last night (our 9 turtle night) one poor Loggerhead got a bit disoriented and exhausted so we had to excavate her from her hole and point her towards the sea. They go through 6 stages when nesting: going up, body pitting, chambering (digging a hole for the eggs), laying, filling in (covering the eggs) and going back. You have to be very careful not to distract them with too much light before they start to lay eggs or they may just turn around and head back to sea. This poor old girl had finished laying and gone back to body pitting (in a major way).

We generally either worked from 8pm to midnight or midnight to around 4.30am but on the last night (our busiest) we were out from 8pm to 5.30am. Our reward – nine turtles including 3 Loggerheads and a magnificent sunrise.

During the day we had to try and move around the house as quietly as possible as people chose to catch up on lost sleep at different times of the day. So on two or three days I went for a walk. It was quite a steep 1.2km walk down to the beach but that didn’t stop the young guys going down to go fishing and why would it when they had the beach to themselves. It was so hot that Andrew and I went for a swim on one or two days and another couple of days we did an 8km loop walk from the light station down to the beach along a fire line and back again. (If you look closely in the photo you can see the lighthouse in the distance).

It was a wonderful experience and despite the sleep deprivation and less creature comforts than at home I’d happily do it again – but only if Frank could come this time :-)