By David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
Florida wildlife photographer Jim Angy spends a lot of time with camera in-hand, observantly poking around in the Brevard County wilds looking for a perfect shot of who-knows-what. One of his favorite subjects is sea turtles. Egg laying season is the time sea turtles present a photo-op for land-based photographers. Below are some of Jim’s photos of a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) on the beach doing what has to be done to perpetuate the species, a job turtles have been doing successfully for 150 million years, but which is becoming increasingly difficult in the face of human interference.
A green sea turtle covering her eggs in the early morning light on a Florida beach. Photo copyright Jim Angy.
According to Dr. Blair Witherington in his book Sea Turtles: An Extraordinary Natural History of Some Uncommon Turtles, adult female green turtles generally weigh between 175 and 485 pounds and may lay 80 to 145 eggs in each nest. A green sea turtle may deposit eggs in up to 7 nests during a season in two-week intervals. However, they only nest every 2 to 4 years.
A green turtle leaving the nest after laying her eggs. Photo copyright Jim Angy.
A green turtle slowly makes her way back to the Atlantic ocean after laying her eggs. Photo copyright Jim Angy.
As graceful as sea turtles are in the water, they must expend tremendous energy to drag themselves across the sand to lay eggs. It is a very tiring process and they stop to rest frequently.
Almost home! This green sea turtle has made it back to the comfortable familiarity of the Atlantic Ocean after laying her eggs on the beach. Photo copyright Jim Angy.
The green sea turtle disappears into the Atlantic Ocean under the rising sun after a successful attempt at laying her eggs. Photo copyright Jim Angy.
Many thanks to Jim Angy for sharing his photography.
