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I’ve arrived in in Costa Rica! What a beautiful country! Palm
trees sway in the gentle breeze, and the sun shines gloriously. The ocean
glistens, and the slow-rolling barrels of the waves beckon the surfers. Locals
greet me pleasantly with a "Buenas Dias." I respond in the same friendly manner, but immediately I wish I had visited Senor
Mauser and Senora Cambara’s Spanish classes more frequently before I left!
I’m waiting in Tamarindo in the Guanacaste Province in the
northwestern portion of the country. This sleepy town is 15 minutes from Playa
Grande, my ultimate destination.
Playa Grande is one of the most important remaining nesting beaches in
the world for leatherback sea turtles. Here, scientists conduct studies on
the behavior, physiology, genetics, and migration patterns of these endangered
giants. My rendezvous with my Earthwatch team occurs this afternoon at the
Goldring Marine Biology Field Station in Playa Grande. I’m very anxious to
learn what the scientists do on a daily (and nightly) basis and what they have
learned.
Yeah! Glad to hear you are there and are ready to learn more about this project. The National Geographic site that you suggested is full of wonderful information. I will be sharing it with the children tomorrow. Now to find more stuff . . .
ReplyDeleteLove ya,
Pat
Thank you! I appreciate it!
DeleteYou made it!!! We are studying the turtles here at home to be ready to talk later this week. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I appreciate it!
DeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteCan't believe you are there already. HDS students and I can't wait learn about the leathernecks from you. I will use the materials you provided with the kids. Have a great time!
-JP
Thanks so much, Mr. Rimlinger! I know your Earthwatch experience will be just as great!
DeleteLooking forward to hearing about your exciting adventure. Save the turtles!!!
ReplyDeleteMr. Peters
Thanks, Mr. Peters! The biologist down here are working very hard to do just that....
DeleteHi Mrs. Johnson, it is Audrey Nourse, it is exciting that you are in Costa Rica with the leatherback sea turtles. I read about them, their nesting habits, and the fact that they are one of the most ancient living reptiles. They are also the most endangered of all turtles and it is sad that they are being killed by the fishermen.
ReplyDelete-Audrey
Hi Audrey,
DeleteThank you very much for your post. I appreciate it! Have you seen a sea turtle before?
Sincerely,
Mrs. Johnson
Dear Mrs. Johnson,
ReplyDeleteHello from Mrs. Graham's class! We have been learning about the leatherback turtles today. We hope you can see a turtle tonight.
Sincerely,
2-G
Hello 2-G!
DeleteThank you very much for your post. What do you all find the most interesting part about leatherbacks?
Sincerely,
Mrs. Johnson
Hi Mrs Johnson, it's Paige C. It is very exciting that you are in Costa Rica helping the leatherbacks. We read about them in literature yesterday. They are really interesting! I'm glad that you can help them! We can't wait to see pictures!
ReplyDelete-Paige Czepiel
Hi Paige,
DeleteThanks so much for your post! I posted some pictures on my post for today. Unfortunately, we can't take pictures at night when we are working with the turtles because the light from the flash disrupts them. However, I got some photos from the biologist that I will post soon.
Take care,
Mrs. Johnson
Hi there!
ReplyDeleteI posted some pictures today. Unfortunately, we can't take pictures of the turtles at night because the flash disrupts them, but I got some photos from the biologist that I will post soon!
Thanks,
Mrs. Johnson
Yes! The red lights do not disrupt the sea turtles, whereas "normal" artificial light does. If there is artificial light near the beach, this prevents the leatherbacks from coming onto the beach at night to lay eggs. Also, when the eggs hatch, the hatchlings depend on the natural reflection of the ocean to "guide" them towards the water. The artificial lights produced by houses, cars, buildings, and people confuse them, and they can't find the ocean. As a result, these confused hatchlings don't survive. Playa Grande is a national park, so there is very little development. Hence, the beach is very dark at night, which allows the turtles to do what they do naturally. Thanks for your response!
ReplyDeleteHi Mrs. Johnson, it's Matt. How big was the biggest sea turtle you and your Earth Watch team have seen so far.
ReplyDeleteHi Matt!
DeleteThe biggest that I've seen is about 5 feet long. They are massive in width, too. I've never been so close to such a big wild animal in nature before!
Thanks for your question!
Mrs. Johnson
Hi Mrs. Johnson, It's Ryan Shean,
ReplyDeleteI think that it is very cool that you get to observe and study these turtles. Over winter break, I went to Kauai and went snorkeling with the Hawaiian Sea Turtles. I liked to observe the way that they acted while I was in the water with them. Do leatherback turtles also like to live near the shore, where they can be examined by snorkelers and scuba divers?
Hi Ryan,
DeleteWhat a great experience you had! The leatherbacks stay in the general area during the three months of their nesting season. However, the rest of the year, they migrate in deeper waters down to the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. I'll ask a biologist about their interactions with snorkelers and scuba divers for you tomorrow, too, because I'm not sure exactly. Great question! Thanks!
Hi Mrs. Johnson...It's your Advisory writing to you. We have just finished looking at your amazing photos and reading about your exciting time in Costa Rica...especially your adventure in the early hours of the morning. We can't wait to Skype with you very soon!
ReplyDeleteXO Matthew, Aidan, Drake, Carter, Wyatt, Ella, Morgan and Jessica
Thanks so much for commenting!
DeleteI miss you all, and I hope you have started 2013 well. I look forward to seeing you all soon!
Mrs. Johnson