See the Terrapins at School
The buttons below link to each of our elementary schools where Diamond and Splash have visited.
Back in the Bay!
Diamond and Splash return to Poplar Island
June 21, 2013
On Tuesday, June 18, Diamond and Splash hitched a ride back to their original home, Poplar Island. We thank Laura Baker of Maryland Environmental Service for bringing our two friends to their native beach and releasing them back into the bay.
Laura was kind enough to video the event for us and these are posted below. The first clip is an introduction and the second clip shows the actual release. Thanks for your help Laura!
Laura was kind enough to video the event for us and these are posted below. The first clip is an introduction and the second clip shows the actual release. Thanks for your help Laura!
Getting Ready for Release on Poplar Island
Just as our third graders are getting ready for the end of school, so are Diamond and Splash. The terrapins will finish their visit to Dowell Elementary School on Friday. On Monday, they have an appointment with Dr. Adam Terry, the veterinarian who checked out our turtles way back in the fall. Dr. Terry will make sure that our terrapins are healthy enough for release.
After their check up, Diamond and Splash will travel back to Poplar Island and then will be released onto the same beach where they hatched last September.
Some of the other schools in similar programs have released their terrapins already. We received some videos from the National Aquarium in Baltimore to give you an idea of how the turtles react to their new freedom.
After their check up, Diamond and Splash will travel back to Poplar Island and then will be released onto the same beach where they hatched last September.
Some of the other schools in similar programs have released their terrapins already. We received some videos from the National Aquarium in Baltimore to give you an idea of how the turtles react to their new freedom.
Getting the Word out!!
Students in Mrs. Fridman's class at Beach Elementary wanted to get the word out about the importance of the Diamondback Terrapin in the Chesapeake Bay. Using their awesome art and writing talents, they created these posters to help to inform the school community about our terrapin friends. Click on the pictures below to see the posters in a larger size.
Tag, you're it!
A couple of weeks ago, Diamond and Splash took a trip up to Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center in Anne Arundel county to get tagged. Every terrapin in the Poplar Island head start project receives a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT tag) to help to identify them if they are re-captured on Poplar Island. The PIT tag is a little bit bigger than a grain of rice (see the picture below).
Dr. Willem Roosenburg of Ohio University inserted the tags under the skin of Diamond and Splash. To prevent infection, the area of skin where the tag was injected is dabbed with iodine, that's the red stuff that you see in the pictures below.
The scientists on Poplar Island will have a scanner with them when they capture terrapins. When they pass the scanner over the turtles, those with a PIT tag will register a number on the scanner to identify that individual terrapin. Since that tag will remain in the terrapin for its entire life, we will be able to get great data on terrapin growth and behavior for years to come.
Dr. Willem Roosenburg of Ohio University inserted the tags under the skin of Diamond and Splash. To prevent infection, the area of skin where the tag was injected is dabbed with iodine, that's the red stuff that you see in the pictures below.
The scientists on Poplar Island will have a scanner with them when they capture terrapins. When they pass the scanner over the turtles, those with a PIT tag will register a number on the scanner to identify that individual terrapin. Since that tag will remain in the terrapin for its entire life, we will be able to get great data on terrapin growth and behavior for years to come.
Dr. Roosenburg makes it officialDr, Roosenburg reads the terrapin tag number that is picked up by the scanner. If recaptured on Poplar Island, the scanner will register that number and the scientists will know whether the terrapin is Diamond or Splash (or some other terrapin that is part of the study). Click on the video link to watch Dr. Roosenburg with one of our terps.
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St. Leonard students and staff gave Diamond and Splash a "roar" of a welcome. Check out the video of their recent arrival at SLES!!
Diamond and Splash arrived at St. Leonard on April 24. Here are a couple of pictures and of them relaxing in their new home.
Tree Tags
Students at Mutual Elementary were hard at work last week designing the terrapin tags that will be attached to the loblolly pine trees that they will be planting in their backyards and communities. The purpose of the tags is to help raise awareness of the importance of trees for a healthy Chesapeake Bay. For more information read the section below!
Trees for Terrapins!
We know that Diamond and Splash, as well as their brothers and sisters on Poplar Island, need a healthy Chesapeake Bay for their home. They need clean water in which to live and to find the foods that they like to eat.
All of us in Calvert County are connected to the Bay through the streams, creeks, and rivers that flow through our backyards, schoolyards and communities and eventually into the Chesapeake.
One way to help terrapins is to plant trees to slow the erosion of soil from the land into the water. Trees also help control water pollution and provide habitat for other animals too.
Each Calvert County third grade student will receive a loblolly pine tree to plant in their backyard or community as way to help terrapins. Students should check with a parent before they plant and follow the planting directions that will be provided.
All of us in Calvert County are connected to the Bay through the streams, creeks, and rivers that flow through our backyards, schoolyards and communities and eventually into the Chesapeake.
One way to help terrapins is to plant trees to slow the erosion of soil from the land into the water. Trees also help control water pollution and provide habitat for other animals too.
Each Calvert County third grade student will receive a loblolly pine tree to plant in their backyard or community as way to help terrapins. Students should check with a parent before they plant and follow the planting directions that will be provided.
Let's Send a Message!
We also want to spread our message about helping terrapins. Each student will receive a tree tag on which they can design a message about helping terrapins. This tag can be attached to the tree once it is planted as a reminder about helping our terrapin friends.
Meet Diamond and Splash!
These two Northern Diamondback Terrapins will be visiting each Calvert County elementary school during the 2012-13 school year. The project is an extension of a third grade science unit focused on terrapin conservation. Students will participate in a CHESPAX field experience at Flag Ponds Nature Park in the spring, as a part of this unit of study.
This blog will be an opportunity for classes to share their experiences with our Maryland State Reptile and to follow their journey through our schools and then back into the Chesapeake Bay.
Head-starting turtles in Oregon
The Oregon Zoo is involved in head-starting turtles as a part of a conservation project. The species that they are working with are Western Pond Turtles. The project is very similar to the one that we are working with right now, with Diamond and Splash!
Western Pond Turtle hatchling