Walking the Beaches

The principle behind walking the beaches at or not long after daybreak is to identify turtle tracks as early as possible in case they lead to a nest.  The reasons for of walking the beaches in the early morning are:

• It is cooler at this time (by 06.30 it is already beginning to get hot)

• Tracks are easier to see without harsh direct light on them

• We need to identify tracks before they are covered by other people or by sand blown by the wind

• We need to cage any nest laid before the fresh scents attract predators such as foxes

• If a nest need to be moved there is a better chance of the move being successful if it takes place within 12 hours of the original nest being laid

• Walking beaches can be done before work

 

Loggerhead turtle tracks - note the swirling pattern created by the use of alternate flippers

Tip: Walking near the sea generally makes for easier walking and track identification.   Many of our beaches are very stony and so a pair of sturdy shoes or sandals shoes (such as Dolphins) are very useful!  Avoid using flip flops.  Also please try to take a bag with you into which you can place any stray litter you may come across.  We clean all our beaches before the start of the season and by doing this you help to maintain them!

 

What to look for?

Turtles literally drag themselves onto the beach using their flippers. Loggerhead turtles (being smaller) can use first one flipper and then the other to drag themselves up the beach. Green turtles however are larger and therefore use both flippers at the same time to haul themselves up. A turtle track looks a little like a single tractor tyre print but there are features that will distinguish turtle tracks from tyre tracks.

A Green turtle - note the symetrical track and tail drag mark

1. Turtle tracks come out of the sea and eventually go back into it.  Vehicle tracks do not (normally!) do this!
2. Turtles tend to wander about on their way up the beach looking for a suitable place to nest
3. This meandering track may lead to one or more disturbed areas
4. When a turtle has finished nesting or given up trying they tend to head straight for the sea (and this track is usually the easiest to see)
5. When you look closely at a turtle track you can make out the drag of the turtle's belly

 

What to do if you find something!

• Do not walk over it or try to dig!
• Make a note of where it is (remember there might be another one further down the beach so do please complete your walk!)
• Maybe mark near the track with some sticks or a cross or pile of stones
• Call the coordinator (we will be walking beaches most days)
• DO NOT BE AFRAID to report something you are unsure of!!!

 

Some examples of the kind of track patterns you may see

We cover four beach areas that are quite different so we will go through them individually

Click each below

[Long/Paramali] [Lemmings] [Tunnel]  [Curium]