The smaller turtle was having a much harder time. She dug one partial egg chamber and then moved on, making her way around the turtle that was laying. As I had positioned myself under the bush with the laying turtle to get her measurements and tags without disturbing the smaller of the two. The turtle that had yet to find the perfect spot headed towards us.
With training from the Science Coordinator, Brittney can now tag turtles independently photos by Kara Beggs
As I slowly moved back as far as I could, as to not scare her or injure myself or the turtle, she proceeded to haul her entire body up and over the other turtle’s head and part of her carapace who was still laying eggs. Much to my surprise the turtle who was laying did not stop nor did she notice that another turtle had moved itself over her as if she was just another rock on the beach.
I think this was so interesting to me as although I had learned that a female hawksbill turtle goes into a trance-like state when she is laying I could not believe that it was so strong she wouldn’t even notice another turtle going over her head.
by Brittney Kay