Turtles Australia Inc News

Turtles Australia News - Cohuna Irrigation Channel

Sat, 06 Jun 2015 11:26:39 GMT

Cohuna Irrigation Channel report

VHS Reptile and Amphibian Expo

Sat, 08 Feb 2014 02:02:01 GMT

2014 VHS Reptile and Amphibian Expo

Royal Melbourne Showgrounds

Saturday 22nd February 2014

9.00am – 5.00pm

Adult $10

Child $5

Family (2 adults/2 kids) $25

VHS members admitted FREE

Lots of promotion for Wangaratta event

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 22:19:53 GMT

There has been lots of publicity organized for the two events at Wangaratta this weekend, With at least two news paper articles one in the Border Mail the other in the Wangaratta Chronicle. There should also be an interview on ABC Golburn Valley on 7 June at 7:20 am.

We should be a great event with have many locals attending over the two days, it looks like the weather will be good to us also.

Turtles Australia Inc. provides nest protection kits to farmers.

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:23:27 GMT

Two nest protection kits were provided to farmers in the Gunbower area today by Turtles Australia Inc. These farmers have expressed and interest in helping us and the turtles they see on their farms while they go about their work.

Both farms have had Broad-shell turtle nesting on them in the last couple of weeks and due to the actions of these farmers three additional nests have been protected from fox predation.

With the nest protection kits we have provided we anticipate many more nests will be protected over the coming years. Each kit contain enough equipment to protect 10 nests, most of the items can be reused after the hatching have emerged from the nest.

The purchase of the kits was made possible by the use of the $200 Bunnings Voucher provided by V/line. Should you wish to sponsor and kit please contact us, $100 will protect 10 nest or around 150 baby turtles.

Quick trip to Gunbower

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 03:57:45 GMT

On April 10 Turtles Australia Inc.'s President Graham Stockfeld and Vice President Dylan Hill made a quick two day trip to Gunbower Island to meet Heidi Stricker a student from the University of Western Sydney that we will be assisting with her work on the Island over the next few weeks.

Photos from the Bardi Gras

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 11:05:00 GMT

The "Dry" display, we had a few Eastern Long Necks here most of the day.

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

The "Wet" Display, we had Eastern Long Neck, Murray River and Broad-shell turtles in here

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

Some of the artwork created by the locals

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

The local preschool kids worked on this masterpiece.

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

Art on display at the Barmah Forest Heritage Centre

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

Art on display at the Barmah Forest Heritage Centre

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

Art on display at the Barmah Forest Heritage Centre

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

Art on display at the Barmah Forest Heritage Centre

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

The grand parade - a flag for each type of turtle

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

Lyn Loger leads the parade

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

Author Heidi Knowles reads her childrens book "Badja Bayayaderra -Longneck Turtle -" to the crowd

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

The town crier with a Eastern Long Neck turtle.

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

Graham Stockfeld shows an Eastern Long Neck turtle to Kate.

Photo: Charlotte Stockfeld

Graham Stockfeld shows an Murray River turtle to Andrew.

Photo: Charlotte Stockfeld

The Easter Bunny checking out the turtles.

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

Locals catch up over the "Wet" display.

Photo: Graham Stockfeld

Road trip on 3/3/2013

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:49:14 GMT

On a beautiful sunny Sunday four members headed north to check out some
turtles nesting sites, below is a brief report from Rolf.

We visited Madowla Lagoon and Broken Creek (274 Kennedy Rd, Picola) for turtles nests. Madowla Lagoon was visited in 2012 and a concentration of nests (probably Emydura) were found on a small area of unploughed land on the verge of the wetland. The intended future land use was for a lucerne crop, so we had hopes of an expanded nesting area for turtles in 2012-13.

On the date of our visit the Madowla Park sandhill was being ploughed, so any nests that may have been established there were obliterated (obviously the planned lucerne crop of 2012 was not successful, the paddock seemed to be predominately Skeleton Weed). The unploughed water frontage did not contain any recent nests. Three (3) nests containing 2012 markers were relocated and an additional nest of the same vintage was identified.

Madowla Lagoon

Photo: Ian Levy

No evidence of turtle nesting was found on the section of Broken Creek examined. However we did see a legless lizard at E:324151 N:6010683, Picola Broken Ck/274 Kennedy Rd. The specimen was not handled to verify species but was most probably Delmar inornata (Olive Legless Lizard).

One Eastern Long-necked Turtle was located on the roadside at Bunbartha (estimate E: 351150 N:5990350). Morphometric data for this specimen was recorded and the turtle released 100 metres from the highway near a farm dam.

Road side morphometric collection.

Photo: Ian Levy

VHS Reptile & Amphibian Expo 2013

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 12:23:34 GMT

A few photos from the expo - I'm to tried to write a report... Thanks to all the helpers today you did a great job.

Melbourne Pet and Animal Expo

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 10:00:06 GMT

The Turtles Australia Inc. stand at the Melbourne Pet and Animal Expo, held over the weekend, proved to be quite popular with a steady crowd checking out the display on both days. The Murray River Turtle hatchlings were a real draw card. Being able to compare day old hatchlings with mature 3kg adults was, to some people, a real eye opener resulting in quite a few members of the public now making plans to purchase larger tanks for their “Penny Turtles”.

We gave four presentations on freshwater turtles which seemed to go over well, despite us having to compete with the dogs demonstrating “fly-ball” which resulted in some extremely loud barking.

We were also interviewed for a new TV program, featuring veterinary surgeon Dr Kevin Foster, which is in production at the moment. Keep an eye on our website for details of when it is to be aired.

Our thanks go to Tuff Turf ‘N’ Co who so kindly donated the synthetic grass that we used both in and around the “wet and dry tubs”. The tiles really added to the display and enabled the kids to comfortably get up close and personal with the turtles.

Most importantly though I’d like to thank Turtles Australia members Dylan, Natalie, Lynette and Mark for their invaluable help over the weekend – without their hard work and enthusiasm the exhibit would never have happened.