Snappers and Painteds - WRS in Algonquin *pics*

[Removed_2815]

Greetings,
I just returned from Snapper and Painted Turtle nesting season research at the Wildlife Research Station in Algonquin Park. I have some great shots so I thought I would share.
First off, a beautiful sunrise last Tuesday morning... there were lots of Snappers nesting this day:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Sunrise.JPG

Here is a Snapper digging the flask (her nest):
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Tired%20Snapper.JPG

This is her laying her eggs (notice the ectoparasite):
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Nest%20Eggs.JPG

Here is a very exhausted girl, she is just finishing up burying her eggs (they use their head to dig a little sometimes, hence the sand):
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Very%20Tired%20Girl.JPG

Here is what we look for when there is no turtle, the classic telltale sign of a Snapper nest below:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Nest.JPG

After we bring the turtle to the lab for measurements we then remove the eggs from the nest (eggs are weighed and measured and returned to the nest the next day with no ill-effects):
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Snapper%20Eggs%20in%20Vermic.JPG

This is me putting some processed eggs back into their nest:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Snapper%20Eggs%20and%20Me.JPG

And this is me about to release a processed turtle back into her stream:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Snapper%20and%20Me.JPG

The same process is performed for Painted Turtles:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Painted.JPG

Here are some Painted eggs:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Painted%20Eggs.JPG

This is a first-time capture, she hasn't been tagged yet but you can see where I notched her marginal carapace scutes for identification (look around the edge of the shell):
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Painted%20Process.JPG

Here's a closeup:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Painted%20Notch.JPG

Finally, a photo of the mayhem that is our van, complete with a loose snapper, snappers in buckets, and eggs in containers - always fun times when you have snappers loose in the vehicle:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Van....JPG

I hope you enjoyed the photos!
Cheers,
Ryan
P.S. By the way, this is part of ongoing research (more than a few decades worth) being done on Snappers and Painteds in the park.

[Ontario_herper]

Right on, cool pictures!

[Swampwalker]

Very nice picture Ryan. Its nice to finally put a face to the name. That 846 really puts a new meaning to Painted turtle. I've found tons of snappers and painteds digging, but have yet to see actual egg laying. I usually don't have time to hang around and wait. Yesterday I was in Bobcaygeon, Minden and Haliburton working, and saw a half dozen snappers at the side of the road.

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by Swampwalker
but have yet to see actual egg laying.
You'll appreciate this Stewart, I got video....
Not much, so as to not stress her too much, but it's a nice macro video of an egg drop :thumbsup:
R

[Scales Zoo]

I too was gonna comment on the picture of the snapper laying eggs. I'd have been giggling and swearing If I was getting pictures like those. And to get video as well just makes it so much better.

I also really liked the pics of the back of the van.

I am suprised to see the size of the snapper that laid eggs. I thought the ones laying eggs would be larger. What did they weigh if you don't mind me asking?

Ryan

[marisa]

Wow! Sweet photos!!! Of all my time in Ontario so far I have yet to see one Snapper! :( Then again, I haven't yet made it a mission to find one.

I guess I'll make a point of it on my next trip up north, Algonquin is my favorite place in Canada. And that's saying a lot as I have been to almost every single province so far and seen some amazing places....nothing beats Algonquin though!!!

Thanks for sharing the pics.

Marisa

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by Scales Zoo
What did they weigh if you don't mind me asking?

Females are much smaller than males. This time of year (and most time of year) all turtles found out of water are usually females. The females come out to nest and the males really don't have a reason to ever leave the water.
Most nesting females we find are between 8 and 11 kg. Of course, we have found smaller and larger female specimens.
Cheers,
R

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by Scales Zoo
I also really liked the pics of the back of the van.

Here's another photo from the van, that's a turtle about to give my ankles a little nip (I'm sitting in the front passenger seat that she is crawling under):
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Snapper%20Under%20Seat.JPG

[Removed_2815]

Here's the short video of the Snapper laying.
Right-click here and save the file to your hard-drive (http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Snapper%20Laying.MPG)
Cheers,
R
Edit: I hope everyone had a chance to look at the video, I have now removed it...

[Wu-Gwei]

Looking good... great pics. Thanks for sharing. I have found a few females digging around on school property, but they did not lay. Last week, I had to remove one for the safety reasons. Love watching them lay....:)


Cheers,
JJ;)