Tuesday 23rd February 2021
We had a bad night last night. Madeline woke at 1130 screaming to get her out of bed as there was something in there. Unable to talk to a half asleep toddler, she moved into our bed. Que back pain, feet in your face and being slapped in the night.
We woke up unrefreshed at 7am. Madeline was very grumpy from the get go today. we packed up and drove to Mons Repos.
Mons Repos – Turtle centre
Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland and has the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific region. The success of nesting and hatching turtles at Mon Repos is critical for the survival of the endangered loggerhead turtle.
The Mon Repos Turtle Centre is dedicated to marine turtle research, protection and education.
Last night the evening tours got to experience an amazing 19 clutches emerge from their nest into the surf.
Tracking turtles
New GPS satellite tags are attached to the back of each turtle and determine the latitude and longitude location when the turtle surfaces for a breath. The resulting data provides vital information about turtle migratory patterns and breeding habits.
Premiere the turtle – an example
In December 2003, turtle researchers were excited that a very special turtle arrived to nest at Mon Repos Beach near Bundaberg. This turtle, named ‘Premiere’ was the first of the 7381 loggerhead hatchlings tagged in early 1975 to return to a nesting beach as a breeding adult.
They named her Premiere and over the summer of 2003-04, she came ashore four times at Mon Repos and laid four clutches of eggs. Two other loggerheads tagged in 1975 also turned up and laid clutches that season.
In late December 2003, researchers fitted Premiere with a radio tag and released her for tracking studies. They want to work out the home range for a loggerhead during the nesting period, the path of her migration after nesting, and her home range outside nesting time.
Premiere laid her final clutch for the season 19 days after the tag was fitted, then left the Mon Repos area on 15 January 2004. She moved north about 416 km in just 16 days to the Percy Isles north of Shoalwater Bay. By 10 March she was 1426 km north of Mon Repos off Howick Island near Lizard Island, but her swimming appeared to be slowing down.
Bargara
After the turtle centre we drove to Bargara which is 13km east of Bundaberg.
We checked out some of the beaches and swimming locations. We found our way to Christsen Park and settle on swimming at the basin there.
We played at the park first and enjoyed a meal at the local golf club.
After lunch we got into our swimmers, layered ourselves in sunscreen and walked to the basin.
We swam for 1.5hr and got to have some up close interaction with lots of little fish.
Tomorrow
We are heading to the Bundaberg botanical gardens. We need to desperately wash the outside and clean the inside of our car. We may even go for a dip at the local water hole.
See you soon!!
morrisblog.travel.blog 