Kirstin Nicholson, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

It has been a flurry of turtle activity around the district over the past couple of months as broad-shelled turtles nest, and eggs hatch.

Graham Stockfeld from Turtles Australia returned to the area recently to record data on turtle sightings, nest locations and condition. 

At this time of year, the broad-shelled turtles are nesting – an activity that can take them up to 500m away from their water environment and leave them exposed to predators.

If the female turtle can avoid predators while on the move, dig a hole, lay her eggs and fill it back in, her job is done. She returns to the waterway and her motherly duties are complete. 

It is not just the female turtles out and about though. You see, provided they are not destroyed by predators like foxes, the eggs take around 12 months to hatch. This means that while the mothers are wandering around laying this year’s eggs, last year’s eggs are hatching. Once hatched the baby turtles instinctively head towards the nearest waterway.

Barapa Country Elders were actively involved in locating turtle nests in the Gunbower Forest on this visit. Uncle Ron Galway from Barham, his son, Glen Galway, and Dixie Patten, all from Barapa Country, and Nick Stewart, the Living Murray Indigenous Facilitator for Gunbower Forest, met with Graham and Turtles Australia volunteer, Michael Farr at Reedy Lagoon and Goat Island. They were able to locate a number of test nests and raided nests.

While Graham was here, he also visited nests that were located 12 months ago to check on the outcome and to assist any hatchlings to get safely to water. With travel restrictions in place last year, it was locals who did their best to protect any reported nests. “All the hatchlings this year were all done by locals up here last year when we couldn’t get up here,” Graham said.

This visit saw Graham protecting the new nest of a turtle on a property near Cohuna. The owner had seen the turtle nesting and protected the nest temporarily until Graham could get there. The eggs should be safe until they hatch in 12 months. 

The work that Turtles Australia does in this area is invaluable. According to Graham, foxes take over 90% of turtle nests in Victoria and this year, Turtles Australia has recorded 160 raided nests. “If we have a conservative average of 15 eggs per nest, that is a loss of 2,400 hatchlings that have not even made it to the water, let alone adulthood,” he said. 

If you have seen any turtles or complete, raided or abandoned nests, you are encouraged to contact Turtles Australia on 0473 554 500 or add the information on the TurtleSAT website.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 6 May 2021.

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