I have a fondness for turtles. Turtles like me – when I walk by a turtle environment (aquarium, terrarium), they follow me. Seriously. They make eye contact, and the watery ones especially, track my path.
I first became aware of turtles’ affinity for me when I visited the Vancouver Aquarium in Vancouver, BC. A large ocean-going turtle “latched on” to my movements, and paid no attention to anyone else during the time I spent next to his tank. The pattern has been repeated since.
May 23 is the shellabration (not my pun!) of all things turtle.
Read these success stories of Parks Canada’s 2018: year of the turtle projects.
Enjoy this video from NatGeo, and go green, or painted, or box, or . . . pick a turtle of your choice for today and always.
We need them as much as they need us to help them survive in the rapidly changing climate and environments.
photograph: Blanding’s hatchling by Elizabeth Aulenback; Keji, Parks Canada
Lorraine's frilly freudian slip 
May 23, 2019 at 10:17 am
Turtles! Turtles! Hahaha! I Love Turtles.
(okay, the candy/chocolate too- I admit, it’s the combo of caramel, choco and pecans!)
but on the serious note: yeahhhhhhhhhhh for Turtles. They are so awesome. Brilliant. Divine. Exceptional. Fascinating.
I could gush on and on.
And damn, wasn’t there just a most wonderful documentary on them, on The Nature of Things. (honestly woman, you need to move “home” – )
“Locals call it the arribada, Spanish for “arrival”: the magical days and nights when tens of thousands of sea turtles come ashore on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast to lay millions of eggs. In Turtle Beach, a documentary from The Nature of Things, Canadian naturalist and cinematographer Hugo Kitching follows a team of international scientists on a groundbreaking expedition to uncover the mysteries of this rare phenomenon.”
https://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episodes/turtle-beach
I was so blown away. So moved.
And I have to say, living where I do, we have ……. Turtles!
Okay, a few here and there, around this place, – I’ve met a few several times, and was close enough (maybe 2 feet) to just be stunned, but respectful enough to let them be. And then of course, along many of the roads, especially near streams and waterways, often there are “flagged” areas, for when they burrow into the gravel sand roads, and lay their eggs. And then, there are areas near here, where it’s a mega turtle thing … breaks my heart when they get caught and hit, crossing the secondary highway — some jackass stole the actual “road sign” (which incidentally cost a fortune) from the city, indicating “Turtle crossing” … so, you know, reduce speed, warning to be careful etc. Grrr…….
(I’m getting my snap on) …
As for your connection? Well that’s just too cool. Obviously, turtle is a spirit totem/connection for you – and that’s pretty damn cool, in my ideas. Great post and offering for us to remember, discover and help save this most distinct creature. :D
LikeLike
May 24, 2019 at 7:08 am
Yes, I do have to come from away! I miss many things Canadian, including the nature of things. I should check out YouTube — I’m finding old fav Canadian tv shows available there.
In the Parks Canada year of the turtle, one of the projects was to make a turtle crossing.
An incredible 3D Imax film at the Natural History museum tells the story of how a girl slowly discovers nature in her neighbourhood by helping salamanders cross the road.
https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/3d-and-2d-films/backyard-wilderness.
I’m not sure if Backyard Wilderness is on youtube.
Made Cathy and I cry! (happy tears. the weird kind I first got when I went to see Bambi with my mother.
I cried at the end. I said to my mother, “I’m not sad, but I’m crying.” (that episode unlike the “pipe,” I do remember)
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 24, 2019 at 9:39 am
Well, it’s good to know I’m not the only one who gets all emotionally wrapped up in these documentaries! Watching the turtles, making this incredible epic journey, was just so overwhelming. The Nature of Things doc. was so fascinating, because for the first time, they had video and audio during the clutch’s hatching process. Talk about amazing. And mind-blowing. And the efforts these little ones have to make, to just dig out, then cross the beaches, then to get into the ocean? holy smokes!
It’s just so interesting to see and note – and I think it’s moments like these, when we can fully appreciate just how little we actually know and understand, about what goes on in the complexity of the natural world unfolding – it’s all really mind-boggling! And yes, right out there, outside our doors, even in big cities. It really is …. an amazing planet.
LikeLike
June 1, 2019 at 9:26 pm
So amazing, and so fragile, strong, resilient, beautiful, sere, lush, green and blue and . . .
I will see if that Nature of Things is on YouTube. A lot of Canadian stuff is. Fast forwarding a long way I will also look for Constable Crabtree’s “Still Standing.”
Missed two episodes of Season 12 of Murdoch Mysteries. Thought I had set up to record the series on that channel, but I hadn’t. Recording two more tonight. Some have been, well, rather silly or thin. I think, perhaps, it’s time the series was wrapping up. Will miss it though. Have back “issues” to find and watch yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 2, 2019 at 8:32 am
actually, they have begun shooting for Season 13! started mid May.
I agree, some of the shows were thin – rather predictable etc. but it seems the show is still the number one show in Canada – on CBC – and has a huge following. Personally, I think they have some loose ends to figure out – and I hope they offer more “crunch” for it – dig a little deeper into it – because clearly “Toronto the Good” is changing, and the ideas are getting a bit too “bland.” Apparently, Helene Joy (Dr. Ogden) is set to direct many of the episodes this season, so maybe that might add something to it.
LikeLike
June 4, 2019 at 4:06 am
Needs something to give it back it’s bite and humour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 4, 2019 at 9:00 am
I totally agree.
LikeLike
May 24, 2019 at 7:09 am
PS: I love the chocolate caramel Turtles, too. Called various other names down here as pecans are so southern.
For a while, there was a dark chocolate version. Irresistible. Now only milk chocolate as far as I can find. Resistible.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 24, 2019 at 9:43 am
Oh yeah, the dark chocolate version. I’ll keep my eyes open for some. I think they’re still available here. If so, I’ll snag some and send them your way. :D
I’ve had some “equivalents” as surprise treats from when “that guy” travels about in Georgia – he’s brought me different little samplings of things loaded with Pecans. I LOVE pecans. But oddly, not pecan pie — far too sweet and “pasty” (the sugar) …
LikeLike
June 1, 2019 at 9:28 pm
We had a friend from Alabama, and he kept taking about “cans” and “cans pie” — finally figured out he meant pecans!
Pecan somethings straight from Georgia. Delish!
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 2, 2019 at 8:34 am
LOL@ “cans pie” … yeah, that does sound odd, but then, when in ….
LikeLike