New Box Turtle Exhibit

Thank heaven for volunteers!  At World Bird Sanctuary that phrase is repeated many times a day.  If they could, I imagine our Box Turtles would be shouting it from their new exhibit box.

Joe Dolezal and Dan Cone put the finishing touches on their poject (photo: Melissa Moore)

Earlier this month Tuesday Crew volunteers Joe Dolezal and Dan Cone put the finishing touches on the new Box Turtle exhibit. The turtles reside just below the small exhibit enclosures in front of the windows that look out onto the Nature Center weathering area deck.

Our four Box Turtles are named Rose, Blanche, Dorothy and Sofia (the smallest one) after the characters in the television series, The Golden Girls.  Our “Golden Girls” are Three-toed Box Turtles Terrapene carolina triunguis a subspecies of the Common (Eastern) Box Turtle. 

One of our "Golden Girls" (photo: Melissa Moore)

When constructing the new Box Turtle exhibit Joe and Dan and Don Marcinkiewicz, who designed and installed the electrical components, took into account the specific needs of this species:

•            Reptiles cannot regulate their own body heat, so you have to produce an ideal temperature for them within their enclosure.  There should be a heat bulb that produces a temperature of about 85f.  This should be to one side of the enclosure so that they can move closer to or further away from the heat source as needed.

•            Water and humidity is important. There must be fresh water within the enclosure constantly.  There should be a large shallow body of water that they can soak in and you must be able to use a spray bottle on the enclosure several times daily to keep the humidity level up.

The turtles are free to use their pool whenever they feel the need (photo: Melissa Moore)

•            Box Turtles do not like glass, and will often try to climb through it pointlessly.  The enclosure should have walls that they cannot see through to give them better peace of mind.  Our enclosure does have one wall of Plexiglas for better viewing, but this is offset by the fact that the majority of the exhibit has numerous hiding places if they desire.

•            There needs to be plenty of artificial brush and bedding that they can burrow into.

Volunteers Joe Dolezal and Dan Cone admiring the results of their handiwork (photo: Melissa Moore)

The World Bird Sanctuary’s new Box Turtle exhibit meets all these criteria and more.  Many thanks to Joe, Dan and Don, members of the World Bird Sanctuary’s Tuesday Crew….we don’t know what we’d do without you.

The new habitat more than meets the criteria for a healthy and happy turtle exhibit (photo: Gay Schroer)

For more information about this species Click here.  

The next time you visit the World Bird Sanctuary be sure to look for our “Golden Girls” in the Nature Center.

Turtles and Livvy Jones

World Bird Sanctuary volunteers come to us in all ages, shapes, sizes, and with a multitude of backgrounds, talents, and interests.

"Junior" - an Ornate Box Turtle

Recently Livvy Jones, who is a college Senior at Washington University and one of the multi-talented volunteers at the World Bird Sanctuary, invited the World Bird Sanctuary staff to her College Senior Art Gallery Exhibit.  

I have seen firsthand Livvy's passion for conservation and the environment.  We do not currently have any turtles on display at the Nature Center, but I’ve noticed that Livvy seems to be exceptionally fond of handling Rustle, our Nine-banded Armadillo.  She would hold him, sometimes for a half hour at a time, to accustom him to being handled, and I would see her frequently observing our Russian Tortoise which is kept in one of our behind the scenes areas.  However, I had only recently learned of her fascination for Box Turtles.

 My coworker and friend, Sara Oliver, and I decided to attend the exhibit located at the Des Lee Gallery, 1627 Washington Ave#804, in downtown St.Louis, Missouri.  When we arrived Washington Avenue was alive with eateries, music and dog walkers.  It was so nice to see Downtown St. Louis hopping!

  "Winston" - a Three Toed Box Turtle

With Box Turtles on our minds we headed into the gallery to see Livvy's artwork.  She was one of six artists displaying their work.  Livvy’s focus was on the land loving Box Turtle--specifically the turtles she photographed in her home state of Oklahoma.  Livvy said she photographed most of the turtles on her farm in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.  Livvy's Mom told me that as a child Livvy urged her to stop for every turtle she saw.  This sounded like a great way to see the differences of all the Box Turtles on her property.  Oklahoma has two species of Box Turtle...the Ornate Box Turtle and the Three-toed Box Turtle. 

"Claire" - a Three Toed Box Turtle

The gallery exhibits were well attended, I'm guessing that there were 200 people at any time in amongst the artwork.  Livvy had the first exhibit on the right as we entered.  It was well lit, with nice vibrant colors, and we were greeted by Livvy as some other guests strolled away.  Wearing a fabulous dress and looking very elegant, Livvy was the only part of her exhibit that wasn't looking like a turtle.  She introduced us to her parents who made the migration from Oklahoma to St. Louis at a very early hour. Livvy had 11 pieces total on exhibit--7 paintings, a jewelry box designed, painted, and shaped like a turtle, and 2 hand painted chairs with the Ornate Box Turtle color pattern.  One of my favorite pieces was the tablecloth designed like a Box Turtle’s shell.  I envy people with such talent.

A tablecloth intricately stitched to resemble a Box Turtle shell  

The gallery this day was vibrant, with the energy of the college aged crowd viewing the artwork and sampling the attractive food table replete with grapes...you gotta have the grapes.  Livvy was a most gracious host as she greeted everyone.  She even made Chocolate Turtles for her guests to sample.  Sara and I arrived too late to sample the chocolate turtles, but understood due to the hungry college types abounding.  Livvys' Mom observed one college-age looking girl make three laps around the gallery, each time discreetly extracting a chocolate turtle as she went by. We all laughed...imagining this hungry chocolate lover circling the gallery.

  

I asked Livvy to describe her passion for the Turtles.  The first two times I asked I received no response. I guessed it was too personal or too big to sum up.  It is part of her soul.  I thought about myself and my love of wild birds. Yes it is all consuming and too big to put in a few words. How does one sum up their life's passion?  Later on I was able to get Livvy to give me an abbreviated summary.  She says she "likes to paint animals because she wants to have them or own them.  You can't own them"...so she "makes objects that are OWNABLE".  She then laughed and said "you’re not going to write that?"  I said "that is an interesting word (OWNABLE)."  She also referred me to her recent creation of her website: LivvyJones.com.

  

Recently as the Meramec River flooded and reached its crest at 27 feet, the road under Highway 44 at Hwy 141 flooded.  It got me to wondering about Box Turtles? ...What do Box Turtles do when the waters rise?  Or do they even go that low in the flood plain?  They are mostly terrestrial.  Do they float to the top and swim away?

Livvy has a mindset for conservation.  She volunteers with us, she is considering becoming a veterinarian, and she may donate one of her pieces of art to the Turtle Survival Alliance turtlesurvival.com.

What an enjoyable evening spent with Sara, Livvy, her parents, and Livvy’s Turtle Art.  My favorite image was "Winston" the long orange throated turtle.  Sara's favorite was Claire, I believe.

Livvy's exhibit title was "Talking Rather Than Screaming."  It’s a real joy to see this young woman’s commitment to conservation through her artwork.

The next time you visit the World Bird Sanctuary Nature Center if you see a young lady walking around holding an Armadillo or a very large Russian Tortoise, chances are it’s volunteer Livvy Jones. 

Submitted by Michael Zeloski, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

It’s Turtle Season

Every year in the month of May there’s an increase in the number of Turtles being seen on the roads. 

Since I am in the field every day I cannot begin to tell you how many turtles I see on the road, and the number I see hit by cars.  I understand that on some roads you can do your best to try to avoid them.  However, sometimes there is no way to avoid hitting them without destroying your car in the process.

In many cases the simplest solution is to stop the car, get out and move the turtle off the road.  It only takes a few extra minutes, and you will be saving a life.  When you move a turtle move it in the direction it appears to be going, if this can be done safely for you and does not put the turtle in more danger.  Never risk your life for a turtle!  If you stop maybe someone else will see you, and will stop and do the same thing the next time.

Usually, the largest numbers of turtles are seen on the road first thing in the morning.  A majority of the turtles that are on the move and crossing roads at this time of year are the females that are heading for nesting grounds.

While reading about turtles crossing the road I found some excellent information on the Humane Society website about what you can do to prevent Vehicle/Animal Collisions.  Following is an excerpt:

“Scan the road as you drive, watching the edges for wildlife about to cross. Not only will this help you to avoid harming or killing wildlife, but it will also make you more aware of other hazards such as bicyclists, children at play and slowly moving vehicles.

“Be Alert!

“Be especially watchful for wildlife at dawn, dusk, and in the first few hours after darkness falls. Many species of wildlife are most active at these times.

“Edges of roads that border agricultural fields or natural habitats are places to be particularly watchful for wildlife.

“Assume that animals do not know to get out of your way. Young animals, in particular, do not recognize cars as a threat.

“Lower your dashboard lights slightly. You'll be more likely to see your headlights reflected in the eyes of animals in time to brake.

“Every apple core, french fry and smelly sandwich wrapper tossed out of a car attracts wildlife to roadsides—often with fatal results. Never throw litter from your car.

“Remember that where there is one animal crossing, there may be more young animals following their mother or male animals pursuing a mate.

“Try to slow down, especially after dark. Many animals needlessly become victims simply because people drive too fast to avoid hitting them. Speed poses a risk to human safety as well.”

Every time you see a turtle on the road think about this--a box turtle can live 50 years in the wild.  By ensuring that one female turtle lives you are giving the 5 or 6 eggs that she lays each year a chance.  In the future at least one of those babies will survive to adulthood and will take her place to continue the species for future generations to enjoy.

Submitted by Cathy Spahn, World Bird Sanctuary Field Studies Coordinator