BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS, GREEN TURTLES and SEA EAGLES - Part 2

Hi again

In the previous blog we headed east from Croker Island to Grant Island. Today we headed west along the northern coast of the Cobourg Peninsula. To save some time we launched off the beach near the Croker Island airport on the west side of the island to avoid having to boat half way around Croker Island. After carefully threading our way through some reef we were out into the Bowens Straits. The photo below is looking back toward the rising morning sun. The Bowen Straits can be very rough if the wind and tide are not favourable. The nearby point on Cobourg Peninsula is named Danger Point for this reason. This morning however the seas were kind.

We met the Cobourg rangers and the CDU scientists near Sandy Island off Danger Point. As the conditions were favourable they were keen to check out Sandy Island - a known nesting site for Olive Ridley Turtles. No nests were found. 

We were being watched by a pair of Sea Eagles guarding their nest. Many seagulls also use Sandy Island to nest. 

In the last blog I asked how one would obtain a DNA sample from a fast moving and very agile dolphin.  We have had Bottlenose dolphins swimming along side our ranger boat at over 35 kms per hour. Even at this speed they would dart in front of the boat. Larger dolphins have been recorded at 54 kms per hour. 

Thankfully, dolphins are very social, inquisitive and intelligent animals. By just moving slowly amongst them, they usually come around the boat to check us out which provides an opportunity to obtain a DNA sample. 

While we are doing this the scientists were videoing the pod as the vertical fin on a dolphin is unique - so they are a bit like our finger prints. 

When a dolphin is close to the survey boat a long pole with a special tool attached to the end is used to collect a smaller piece of skin tissue for DNA analysis. 

Moving further west into Trepang Bay we returned to the turtle survey. The water depth is between 1 and 2 meters. 

Below Garngi ranger Clayton dives in and catches a male green turtle - not bad for a 45 year old!! Can you see the turtle before he dives? I am continually amazed at how easy the rangers can see the turtles in the water - often still a long way off.

Below the male green turtle is being measured and a DNA sample taken before being returned to the water.

Some approaching 'build up' storms forced an early end to our turtle survey. Apart from a small shower we managed to avoid the really heavy rain. 

After a long dry season with little or no cloud, the buildup to the wet season provides a much more interesting sky - the light and colours can be very special - and with the flat sea these colours are often reflected in the water.

On the way back to Croker Island we noticed another guided fishing operator so we went to check them out. Some of these operators offer very comfortable fishing accommodation for their guests and their tenders have 300hp outboards -  so definitely not low budget!

Recently we had a call from an ex-Mission Aviation Fellowship friend. Andrew who was one of Bryan's flight instructors back in the late 1980s. He is now a check and training pilot with the RFDS. Due to the fact that the bigger airlines have been recruiting a lot lately, this means that many pilots have moved on from the smaller operators and they have to be replaced, which in turn means that people like Andrew have been busy getting the new pilots up to speed in the RFDS. He and his new pilot dropped into Croker Island while doing some training, so Nance organised some refreshments. 

Blessings until next time.

Bryan and Nancy