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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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OUR TRIP TO THE TURTLE SANCTUARY IN LA RIBERA
Jana and myself had been dreaming about this event for the last few years.
We, as well as many Nomad members, had envisioned a turtle hatchery to be something like an incubator at a poultry farm, complete with heat lamps,
enclosed shells, and some sort of a building that housed the farm. Many of us who spent a portion of our lives on a farm know what we had to go
through to nurture the little farm animals that were born, and we had to be there to help along the moms.
What we encountered at the hatchery was totally the opposite:
A simple 30 meter X 30 meter fenced enclosure and markers that resembled grave markers at a cemetery.
Below are my photos of the sanctuary, and the trip surrounding it, thanks to my good friend, George Bergin (Osprey), from La Ribera, who pulled some
strings and got us to the sanctuary, and thanks to Dave Thornton for loaning us the quadrunner.
The Kawasaki quad that Dave Thornton loaned to Jana and myself.
The sign designating the turtle sanctuary
[URL=http://s285.photobucket.com/user/udowinkler/media/La%20Paz%20Anniversary%202013/IMG_6095.jpg.html]
[IMG]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/udowinkler
/La%20Paz%20Anniversary%202013/IMG_6095.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
The markers depict the day the turtle eggs were buried, the number of eggs buried, expected hatching date.
The eggs are placed by the tortugeros in order of burial. The earliest burials in the front, and the later ones in the last row.
The two netted circles are from the earliest burials and are formed in such a way that no predator can enter the newly born turtle nest. The turtles
are enclosed in the cage, until the tortugeros come by on their daily routine and transport the eggs by hand (in a large basket) to the water for
release. Once in the water, however, they are still at the mercy of other marine life. At least they don't have to fight off the onslaught of seagulls
who feast on the turtles as they make their way to the water.
Extra supplies for future nest burials
[URL=http://s285.photobucket.com/user/udowinkler/media/La%20Paz%20Anniversary%202013/IMG_6089.jpg.html]
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Standing beside the hatchery are myself, my wife Jana, and George Bergin
Jim Moore, who runs a B&B in the jungle behind the nest, escorts us to the hatchery
Dave Thornton (dtbushpilot) was extremely generous to loan Jana and myself his Kawasaki quadrunner, so we could make the 8 mile run to the hatchery
via the beach. He was also extremely kind to let us stay at his wonderful and scenic condo in Buena Vista.
Condo view looking south
Condo patio view looking north
Condo bedroom overlooking the calm seas
Condo view from the living room
Condos' living and dining area
Condo's kitchen and wi-fi area
We also spent some time visiting with Dave and his wife Jill at their new "two bedroom mansion"
One of his TWO garages
Dave and Jill's infinity pool
The house has several decks: The view from one of them looking north
The view looking south, which includes one of the three dining areas.
His well stocked bar!
The dream kitchen
[URL=http://s285.photobucket.com/user/udowinkler/media/La%20Paz%20Anniversary%202013/IMG_6284.jpg.html][IMG]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/ud
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Jana and Jill discuss the day's events in Jill's formal dining area.
Their living quarters
Dave and Charlie (whom stayed at our place in BA) canning some freshly caught yellowtail
[URL=http://s285.photobucket.com/user/udowinkler/media/La%20Paz%20Anniversary%202013/IMG_6132.jpg.html]
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Dave prepared some fresh sushi and served it on his terrace dining area.
Lunch at La Paloma restaurant with George and Lynda Bergin
Afterwards, George took us on a guided tour of part of the local mountains. He pointed out the trees that actually break rocks into pieces by
purposely growing between the rock's cracks.
Jana and myself needed to go to La Paz to sign some papers at a Notario's office and ran into a large thunderstorm. Yes, we had to cross this torrent
as well in our little roller skate rental car. At least we did not get washed out to sea!
Jana and myself celebrating our anniversary at Palermo's restaurant (on the La Paz malecon). Superb quality food and presentation. Thank you Jesse for
the recommendation (Tres Virgenes is closed on Mondays)
We ordered shrimp a-la-mojo de ajo, and chipotle lobster
Champagne is tough to open on a very humid day!
Champagne, local cheese and crackers, on the condo's deck, and overlooking the calm Sea Of Cortez...what could be better?
What a way to start the day with a superb sunrise!
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Udo]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Udo]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Udo]
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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BajaRat
Super Nomad
Posts: 1303
Registered: 3-2-2010
Location: SW Four Corners / Bahia Asuncion BCS
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Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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Looks like a real drag Udo, and you must have really suffered through those langosta size shrimp.. yum !
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by BajaRat]
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Thanks, Rat...the price husbands have to pay for keeping romance in a marriage!
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Ateo
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That arroyo was flowing!!! Surprised the rental made it!!!! Thanks for sharing.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
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Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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There was a major applause from the spectators watching from the other side.
My trick was to watch for ten minutes and see what speed work best with the least amount of splashing. I was also watching the path the previous
vehicle took so as to avoid rocks and shifting sand berms.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Mulegena
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Very nice trip report, Udo.
Fascinating, the turtle hatchery. Question, please: From where are the eggs collected, how and why? Certainly the mama turtles know where to best
incubate their clutch.
I like that you, too, forded a river. I did so two weeks ago on my way south, a bigger stream with big-honkin' rocks, btw. Traffic was held up about
an hour in each direction; a road grader appeared but wouldn't tackle the job and left, so a passenger on a bus got out in the water and moved some of
the rocks; the bus was first to cross. I watched for 15 minutes or so then ventured forth in my little pickup. We did just fine!
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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Osprey
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Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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If I may: Looked like about 90 nests incubating that day so about 9,000 eggs. The Turtle Group people ride their quads up and down the beaches just
for a few miles either side of La Ribera, follow the tracks to the nests, dig them up, return to the nursery, dig a hole, put the eggs inside, place
the marker and go back out looking for more. It's hot, hard work and if they didn't do it a lot of the nests would be robbed by people and animals,
some would be flooded out by bocas and tides.
Takes 50 to 60 days for the eggs to hatch and when the day comes, they dig them up and protect them as they are released in ways mama couldn't manage.
The mamas lay one to three nests each season so the work never stops from June to January. The babies that survive the rigors of life at sea return
when they are 15 years old to lay their eggs on the same beaches.
Had a ball with Udo and Jana just showing them part of this interesting area.
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Osprey]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Osprey]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Osprey]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Osprey]
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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To answer your question, Mulegena:
The eggs were collected from within a 20 mile area, both north and south of the sanctuary. The tortugeros also rode up and down the beach with a
variety of atvs, and collected each set of eggs separately.
Yes, the mama turtles do know where best to lay their eggs...they in fact, swim the sea for many days to "sense" where best to lay their eggs. But
some of them miscalculate the high tides, and that is where the tortugeros come in.
On my way to the sanctuary, I probably saw over 60 nests. Many were marked by tortugeros with sticks in the sand. Others were not.
Here are some of the egg nests Jana and I rode by: In this nest site you can see at least 8 sand dimples, and you can also see how close we came with
the quad (inadvertently) by our tire tracks.
This is a more recent one, since the turtle's tail mark was still visible in the sand.
This is what the nests look like as they are laid in the sand by the moms.
We saw several dozen of these nests (unmarked), and one HAD to be careful not to run over one of the nests as we rode by at 25 MPH.
This nest was invaded by a terrestrial predator.
[URL=http://s285.photobucket.com/user/udowinkler/media/La%20Paz%20Anniversary%202013/IMG_6055.jpg.html][IMG]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/ud
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Not to confuse a pet's burial site with a turtle nest.
Here is one of many marked nests:
On edit: Notice how close the high tide water line is to the nests!
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Udo]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Udo]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Udo]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Udo]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Udo]
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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MMc
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Udo, thanks for sharing. The whole trip looks pretty cool, turtles, people, digs. Looks like good times.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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Had it not been for George Bergin's connections and Dave Thornton's lending us his quad, this may not have happened.
The other alternative was to have George drive us to Jim Moore's house and we all get on his little atv to the incubation site.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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jbcoug
Senior Nomad
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Location: Vancouver, WA
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Thanks Udo,
Great job sharing with us. This experience should go on my bucket list. Appears you and Jana were reasonably comfortable during your stay. It's nice
to have good friends in the right places.
John
\"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.\" Andy Rooney
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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I am so happy that you share these with us... awesome job with the photos, and doing that is still 'tax free' here on Baja Nomad!
Is dtbushpilot's irrigation set up working? 
Beautiful area... Baja rocks!
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Udo
Had it not been for George Bergin's connections and Dave Thornton's lending us his quad, this may not have happened.
The other alternative was to have George drive us to Jim Moore's house and we all get on his little atv to the incubation site.
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Or you could have come to Pescadero and driven a rental car to within a hundred meters of an incubation
site.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mil gracias for your insight, George!
Even though this event happened two weeks ago, it becomes impossible to remember everything everyone had said.
In previous years, when I was interviewing people for a story, I carried a cassette recorder to refresh my memory.
Thanks for making the week such a memorable one for the two of us.
...and again, my sincerest apologies for addressing your lovely wife, Lynda, as Jana, on Facebook.
BTW...addressing this to Nomads, my Facebook page has ALL the photos taken on this trip. Posting photos on Nomad is a time-consuming task, and
therefore many photos do not get posted.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
If I may: Looked like about 90 nests incubating that day so about 9,000 eggs. The Turtle Group people ride their quads up and down the beaches just
for a few miles either side of La Ribera, follow the tracks to the nests, dig them up, return to the nursery, dig a hole, put the eggs inside, place
the marker and go back out looking for more. It's hot, hard work and if they didn't do it a lot of the nests would be robbed by people and animals,
some would be flooded out by bocas and tides.
Takes 50 to 60 days for the eggs to hatch and when the day comes, they dig them up and protect them as they are released in ways mama couldn't manage.
The mamas lay one to three nests each season so the work never stops from June to January. The babies that survive the rigors of life at sea return
when they are 15 years old to lay their eggs on the same beaches.
Had a ball with Udo and Jana just showing them part of this interesting area.
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Osprey]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Osprey]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Osprey]
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Osprey] |
[Edited on 9-22-2013 by Udo]
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Looks like you had a really good time---that is a good thing. Also great to see the work being done for the turtles. Thanks
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BajaBlanca
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Location: La Bocana, BCS
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What a fun trip. Thanks so much for taking the time to share. Posting pics is not easy.
@dtbushpilot: The furniture looks awesome!
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BajaLuna
Senior Nomad
Posts: 581
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Mood: groovy
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This thread about the turtle sanctuary made me happy, this is awesome work they do! Hail Hail to all the turtle helpers! I must get there one day!
Udo, thanks for sharing your pics, I loved seeing the area down there, the beaches etc, one of these days I'm going to go see this beautiful place! So
glad you had a fantastic getaway for your anniversary. Happy wife happy life!!
Aww yes living in the moment, good food, good friends, romance and Baja, it doesn't get much better than that!!
And thanks for sharing the info about the turtles, Udo and George, very informative!
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TMW
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Wow this is really interesting, thanks
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Udo
Elite Nomad
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Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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The point of this trip report is about the turtle sanctuary, yes.
But the other point is the establishments of Nomad friends throughout the Peninsula...
That is something that can't be substituted
Having friends in Baja is as good as family can get, and many times even better!
That is the reason we, as Nomad members, should make it a point to let members know where one of us will be, and to make it a point to visit with
members while in Baja.
My first trip to visit George, was about 10 years ago, and I went 90 miles out of my way to visit with him and Lynda.
Their friendship has been incalculable!
Same with Dave and Jill, and Shari, and so on!
[Edited on 9-23-2013 by Udo]
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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durrelllrobert
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This is what they are protecting against
Mexican poaching turtle eggs that sell for up to 15 pesos each:
Bob Durrell
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