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Northern Territory Conservation project - Turtle Tales
Australians call this the Top End - and I'm going even further! I'm traveling to Bare Sand Island, situated at the end of a group of islands in northern Fog Bay, about 50 kilometres west of Darwin.
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The island sits on a reef and is, you guessed it - sandy with little vegetation, and just a couple of trees for shade!
We're going to help with research of Flatback Turtles (Natator depressus). Flatbacks nest only in Australia - some of them on Bare Sand Island - and our work will help with important research and species recovery plans. We also monitor Green Turtles (endangered) and Hawksbill Turtles (critically endangered) that forage on the rocky reefs around Bare Sand Island.
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The trip from Darwin to Dundee Beach takes about 2 hours in the vehicle, with our Team Leader, Darryl. We board a chartered vessel for the trip to our camp on the island - it takes between 1 and 2 hours, depending on conditions. We're all given a safety briefing and issued with life jackets before we step on board. The trip to Bare Sand Island can be rough, so sea sickness tablets are recommended for those who may suffer, however our trip is calm and spectacular - we all enjoy the sea breeze in this hot and humid climate!
On arrival, we find Bare Sand Island looking just as you'd imagine a desert island to look! It's about 1.8 kilometres to walk right around the island. Our Team Leader, Darryl, starts things off with a full site safety briefing, and then introduces us to the activities we'll be doing this week. Dr Michael Guinea is a turtle researcher who has been working on the Bare Sand Sea Turtle Research Project since 1996. Working closely with a researcher adds a depth of understanding that makes me feel so lucky to have the opportunity to play a part in such a great project.
Our project starts when we unload the vessel and set up camp on the island - we're the only people there, on our very own desert island! From then on, our days are determined by the tides; some of our activities take place early in the morning and some late at night. We learn lots of skills, such as helping with catching turtles, tagging, measuring and collecting samples. We patrol the beach at high tide looking for turtles coming ashore to nest. The rest of the time we collect data from turtles around the Island - oh yes, and we all take lots of photographs! The tasks are rotated so everybody enjoys a turn at the different activities.
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Camp duties are fun, with everybody helping to cook and clean. There is plenty of recreational time during the day to play games, explore the island, go fishing or sit down with a good book - this is my idea of paradise. Our accommodation is basic but comfortable.
We are camping in tents supplied by the project - everyone has a 2-person tent, and the views each morning are terrific - it's worth getting up early to enjoy the sunrise on our very own island! A highlight for the whole team is when we see a Dugong swimming close to shore as we enjoy the sunset on a desert island. |
Dugongs are sometimes called 'Sea Cows' because they graze on sea grasses; they are large grey mammals, and Darryl tells us they can grow up to three metres in length. They are usually found in shallow waters protected from large waves and storms. They surface only to breathe, and never come on to land; we have seen something here, in this remote and beautiful spot, that very few people are ever lucky enough to see.
Evenings are fun - we enjoy preparing meals together, and especially enjoy it when one of the other volunteers, Steve, catches fresh fish for dinner. It's an incredible experience just to relax and listen to the sounds around us as the day slips away and the stars come out - they are so bright! I have never seen the night sky like this before.
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Goodbye Bare Sand Island - the boat is waiting to take us back to Darwin, but all the photographs I've taken this week will be a great reminder of this special place, and I'll be staying in touch with the other volunteers too - friends for life, I think!
Our Team Leader, Darryl, is really pleased with everything that we've achieved this week, and Michael also confirms that our research this fortnight will help to add to the understanding of these beautiful endangered turtles - it's great to know that we have been part of the frontline efforts to help save a species. |
We've got a free weekend in Darwin to look forward to now, before our next project.
We're off to Nhulunbuy, in Arnhem Land to work with on a marine debris project. Arnhem Land, which lies to the east of Kakadu National Park and the Arnhem Land escarpment, encompasses 91, 000 square kilometres and is home to many Aboriginal people, most of whom continue to practice their traditional way of life.
Those wishing to visit Arnhem Land need to apply for a permit from the Northern Land Council - we're lucky because the project has arranged all this for us. Darryl tells us that the natural beauty and cultural importance of the area venturing into Arnhem Land an unforgettable experience, and we'll be going somewhere that even most Australians don't get to visit!
In the meantime, we have a free weekend in Darwin - we're planning to visit the Museum and Art Gallery, and go to the open air sunset markets at the beach for some free entertainment - street theatre, music, bush poetry and lots of arts and crafts and food from the region.
 Further information on the Conservation Volunteers Australia Project
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