One in a thousand baby green sea turtles lives to become an adult. Sea turtles face many challenges in trying to survive. Here’s how they get their start in life.
At night, baby green sea turtles scurry to the ocean from the deep hole they dig out of. They hatch from eggs deposited by their mother (also at night) on a sandy beach above the high tide line. The small, white eggs are buried in a blanket of sand to keep them warm and hide them from predators. The eggs are left alone to incubate for 50 -70 days.
The temperature of the nest determines the sex of the turtles. Warmer eggs become males; cooler eggs become females. Both males and females can dig out of the same nest, because the temperature can vary in different parts of it.
The hatchlings hurry to the ocean in the dark when it is less likely that they will be eaten by crabs or shore birds like gulls or herons. Most babies do not make it to the ocean. Even if they safely make it to the water, they could be eaten by birds hovering above the waves or predatory fish lingering close to shore.
Green Sea Turtle Life Stages
Young green sea turtles spend the first three to five years of their lives in deeper waters. They are carnivores, eating fish eggs, molluscs, jellyfish, worms, sponges, algae, crustaceans and small invertebrates.
Adults green sea turtles spend most of their time in shallow coastal waters with lush seagrass beds. They are herbivores, relying on food such as sea grasses and algae. Adults are at home in coral reefs, salt marshes and near shore grass beds. In these habitats they have lots of food and protection from predators and rough ocean waves.
Conservation of Green Sea Turtles
Green sea turtles are endangered. They face a high risk of extinction in the wild. The turtles are protected by law in most countries. Many countries also protect their nesting areas.
Some threats green sea turtles face:
- Loss of nesting areas due to real estate development in coastal areas.
- Poaching: There is illegal trade of eggs, meat and shells. The skin is used for shoes, belts and bags. The meat is used to make exotic dishes like turtle soup. Turtle oil is used for cosmetics.
- Plastic and other marine debris
Help Keep Green Sea Turtles Alive
We can help green sea turtles stay alive! We can:
- read books about green sea turtles and how to help them survive.
- limit the use of plastic and recycle the plastic we use.
- buy sustainably harvested, ocean friendly seafood.
- support organizations that help protect green sea turtles and their habitats.
- share social media posts about sea turtles and efforts to protect them.
People who live close to a sea turtle nesting area can:
- join a beach clean up.
- volunteer for a turtle watch night shift.
- turn off porch lights at night.
- refrain from using flashlights or making bonfires during nesting season.
Porch lights, flashlights and bonfires disorient hatchlings. They can head away from the ocean instead of towards it.
Green Sea Turtle Activities
Green Sea Turtle Small World
Materials used:
Play sand
Water
Blue liquid watercolor (to color the water)
Rocks (different sizes and colors)
Sea turtle
Sea glass
Small shells
Fish
Another way to feature the items in this sensory bin is to add them to different compartments of a clear plastic drawer tray. The drawer tray option is featured earlier in this post, and includes green sea turtles at different life stages.
This Small World is inspired by the art of Carleen Ross. Carleen has authored a gorgeous book featuring her art and sea turtle facts called “Journey To The Sea Turtle”. (CarleenRossArt.com)
Painted Sea Turtle Hatchlings
Supplies needed:
White corn syrup
Green food coloring
Neon green food coloring
Yellow food coloring
Small jars
Spoons for stirring paints
Paint brushes
Manila paper turtle shapes
Add green and neon green food coloring in different amounts to a few small jars filled with white corn syrup. Add a little yellow food coloring to one jar with green. Mix the paints to make lighter and darker shades of green and yellow green. Add yellow food coloring to one jar of corn syrup and stir.
Paint the sea turtle hatchlings.
(This paint is sticky, and will take at least a week to dry completely.)
This art activity is inspired by the art piece “Baby Honus” by Cas Plester. (chillpineappleart.ca)
Egg And Hatchling Sensory Bin
(Sometimes scientists move sea turtle eggs to a safer, drier place and bury them there.)
Add the following items to a sensory bin:
Brown rice
Cloth Bag
White styrofoam balls (sea turtle eggs)
Sea turtle hatchling
Juvenile sea turtle
Scoop
A red light can be shined on this sensory bin. Scientists and volunteers use a red turtle friendly light to carry out their night watch sea turtle activities.
Sea Turtle Dramatic Play Kit
Add supplies used by sea turtle scientists and turtle watch volunteers:
Toolbox
Clipboard, paper and pencils (to take down data)
Measuring tape to measure nest locations or sea turtle lengths
Stakes (to mark nest locations)
Cloth bag (to relocate turtle eggs if needed)
Ice (to chill “tissue or blood samples”)
Needle
Dry gauze
Plastic specimen jars
Tag applicator
Rubber gloves
Feature Conservation Organization
The organization WIDECAST
- studies sea turtles.
- educates children and adults about sea turtle conservation.
- organizes beach cleanups.
- recruits volunteers for nightly patrol of sea turtle nesting grounds.
- promotes alternative sources of income to poaching, i.e. making jewelry with sea glass.
- lobbies governments for stronger regulations to protect sea turtles and their nesting sites.
WIDECAST is showcased in an excellent non fiction picture book called Sea Turtle Scientist by Stephen R. Swinburne.
For more SENSORY ACTIVITIES click here.
