Hi
We have been out and about enjoying the great weather at this time of the year in northern Australia.
This week Darwin and Alice Springs have been in a Covid lockdown. Whilst we have not been locked down, travel to and from Croker Island has been restricted to essential people only.
The rangers did a couple of patrols to the northern tip of Croker Island, Cape Croker or Wunwu. The photo below shows the small lighthouse there.
The marine currents and winds bring a lot of marine litter to the beaches in this area.
Time for a spell - pulling partly buried nets and other marine debris can be heavy work.
We burn what will burn and the rest is carried back to the community dump.
If you double click on the photo below, you will notice some dead trees in the top centre of the picture. These were mimosa which we treated just before the wet season in December 2020. If left untreated the mimosa will take over this whole area and choking out all other vegetation.
The rangers noticed one set of turtle tracks coming from the water leading up the beach. This can only mean one thing. There must be a turtle laying her eggs. The two short videos below show her preparing the hole for the eggs. As the sun was getting low in the western sky they could not stay for the egg laying. Goanna's eat many eggs before they can hatch. The rangers have asked if we can make some sort of mesh barrier to keep the goannas out and give the little turtles a better chance of making it back to the water, where they will face even more creatures trying to eat them. Only a small percentage of baby turtles make it to adulthood.
Turtles are powerful and graceful swimmers in the water. Digging a hole in the sand is just plain, hard and somewhat clumsy work for turtles!
While Nance was walking along the beach recently at Wanakutja, she videoed this 2 metre shark below coming right into the shallows looking for a feed. We think it is one of the reef sharks - currently waiting for an expert to identify it.
The crocodile below was enjoying some warm sun on the beach. As the rangers approached he took to the surf. Double click on the photo - do you notice anything unusual about the croc?
The end part of the crocodile's top jaw is missing. Probably due to an earlier altercation. It does not appear to have caused him too much trouble as he was around 4 meters in length.
Spearing fish and/or stingray in the clear waters on the sheltered side of the island, family members of one of the rangers hunt for meal.
Nance and a local young girl try their hand at fishing in the late afternoon.
Until next time, take care and God bless.
Bryan and Nance
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