» theturtleguy

Story Time and Paper Bag Whales @ NMLC

theturtleguy — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:13:06 +0000

Okay. It’s summer vacation and it’s raining outside. Did I say, “Raining?” It’s pouring. The kids are nursing yesterday’s sunburn from 12 hours on the beach. And you can’t stand one more rerun of SpongeBob SquarePants. What is a formerly sane parent going to do? Who you gonna call?

The smart answer is “the National Marine Life Center at 508-743-9888″ to learn about the day’s happening events at the Discovery Center. If you called this morning, you would have heard about Story Time with a whale of a tale read by Amanda Chilson, followed by that hands-on adventure of creating Paper Bag Whales coordinated by NMLC education director Joanne Nicholson and ably assisted by interns extraordinaire Chelsea Scudder and Amanda Chilson.

Before you reach Story Time and the Whales, you’ll be greeted at the door by Laura Doucette, Discovery Center manager, who’ll make certain that your every expectation is met and exceeded. Turtles and seals and whales, oh my!

After satisfying your curiosity for knowledge about marine animals and how they are rescued and rehabilitated, you’ll settle down in Story Time Corner, framed by the exquisite Critter Tank and the Giant Whale Fluke in the background. Amanda opens her book …

When Story Time is done, kids from four to ninety-four meander into the Activity Center where everything lies in readiness to create Paper Bag Whales. Never been whaling before? Never mind. Joanne and her team will guide you through this wholesome adventure.

Could there be a more perfect adventure than Whale Watching at the National Marine Life Center on a rainy day on Cape Cod? I think not.

Turtle Tanks Move to New NMLC Hospital

theturtleguy — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:01:29 +0000

Four turtle tanks have been moved into the new NMLC marine animal hospital in downtown Buzzards Bay as the hospital takes shape around them. Construction works moves quickly at the hospital that will open its doors for new patients on October 31st. The NMLC marine animal hospital will rehabilitate sea turtles, seals, porpoises, dolphins and small whales from its location at the gateway to one of the most active stranding spots in the Americas.

Watch as workers guide the largest turtle tank down Main Street into the new hospital.

NMLC Turtle Ward Takes Shape

theturtleguy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:45:11 +0000

As steel workers continue to frame out the new NMLC marine animal hospital in Buzzards Bay, other workmen poured and spread concrete to shape out the hospital’s Turtle Ward. The NMLC marine animal hospital will open on October 31 in time to accept the rarest and most endangered sea turtles in the world, Kemp’s ridleys, from the fall cold-stunned stranding season.

FIRST BEAM! Marine Animal Hospital Rises on Cape Cod Canal

theturtleguy — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:16:24 +0000

With a 250-foot crane, constructions workers began to lift 40-foot/1200-pound steel beams, joists and girts, and assembled these jigsaw puzzle pieces into the new NMLC marine animal hospital in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. This 15,000 square foot, 100,000 gallon marine animal hospital will rehabilitate the world’s rarest and most endangered sea turtles, seals, porpoises, dolphins and small whales at the gateway to one of the world’s most active stranding hotspots: Cape Cod.

Watch as FIRST BEAM gets bolted into place above and the hospital begins to take shape below.

Girls Scouts “Save the World” @ NMLC

theturtleguy — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:34:27 +0000

A local Girl Scouts Troop has decided to earn its “save the world” badge by helping the National Marine Life Center raise funds for the new marine animal hospital. On July 18th from 11 am to 2 pm, the troop will collect empty redeemable bottles and cans at the NMLC Discovery Center, 120 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA near the Railroad Bridge and the entrance to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. This event will occur come rain or come shine. Stop by and help the Girl Scouts earn their badge and help the National Marine Life Center build its marine animal hospital.

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane!! It’s a Building Crane!!!

theturtleguy — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:57:46 +0000

“Look up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a building crane!” Sound like the opening scene of another Superman rescue? If you’re a stranded marine animal on Cape Cod or in Buzzards Bay, today would seem like Superman has finally arrived.

A 250-foot crane towers over the foundation of the new NMLC marine animal hospital near the Cape Cod railroad bridge in downtown Buzzards Bay. The crane churns to life, stretches across the work site, bends down to snatch 40-foot/1200-pound beams, and lifts them into place. Workmen bolt and weld joists, beams, girts and panels of this prefabricated steel jigsaw puzzle into a life-saving marine hospital that restores life back to the ocean.

Like Phoenix, a marine animal hospital rises from the ashes of the old Grossman warehouse. Joists slip into place; panels span supports; and a 15,000 square foot miracle takes shape to transform Main Street, Buzzards Bay, with a dazzling wall of translucent light as a beacon to stranded, injured and ailing marine animals.

More than 100,000 gallons of natural salt water pumped from the tidal cleansed Cape Cod Canal will fill 14 pools and tanks equipped with state-of-the-art medical tools to rehabilitate sea turtles, seals, porpoises, dolphins and small whales. Located at the gateway to one of the most active stranding hotspots in the Americas, this new marine animal hospital will be able to accommodate up to 50 sea turtles, 12 seals, 4 dolphins and 2 pilot whales once fully built out. As many as 300 marine animals strand on average each year in the Cape Cod area. Flexibility of design will allow the hospital to reconfigure and deal with whatever mixture of stranded animals present themselves.

Life’s a Beach … for “Patty”

theturtleguy — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:31:13 +0000

Okay, maybe it is a kiddie’s pool, but the sand is real and the sunshine is divine. For the first time since she was found nearly frozen to death on St. Patrick’s Day in Wellfleet Harbor, “Patty” ventured into the open air to bask in July sunshine on Thursday. The full story of her rescue is documented on Turtle Journal under the headline Severely Cold-Stunned Terrapin Rescued from Wellfleet’s Chipman’s Cove on Saint Patrick’s Day. Patty continues to show gradual progress at the National Marine Life Center and consumes as much shellfish as a ravenous summer tourist.

Did Patty enjoy her outing at the beach? Well, you can watch her savoring the warmth and sunshine above. When staff removed her from the kiddies’ pool to place her back in her large rehabilitation tank, Patty kicked in protest to emphasize her point, “I want MORE!” And she’ll get it, too.

NMLC Music Video “Pearl Diver”

theturtleguy — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:25:25 +0000

Enjoy our exciting new National Marine Life Center music video called “Pearl Diver,” artistically created by Jul3ia Richard and Evan Kaigle with post-production editing by Turtle Journal. Jul3ia’s driving rhythm simulates the release of rescued sea turtles back into the ocean, while Evan’s moving images evoke the joy of the National Marine Life Center today and paint the promise of the emerging NMLC marine animal hospital of tomorrow.

Fins and Flippers at NMLC

theturtleguy — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:20:47 +0000

Summer education programs have begun at the National Marine Life Center at 120 Main Street in Buzzards Bay. “Fins and Flippers” kicked off this morning in the Discovery Center with kids and parents having a great time assembling sea turtles from recycled CDs. A donation of $3 for non-members and $1 for members is suggested for this exciting children’s activity. For more information, click here to visit Summer Education Programs on this web site.

“Fins and Flippers” at the National Marine Life Center

NMLC Critter Tank

theturtleguy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:53:29 +0000

Can there be anything more exciting to children than a Critter Tank? I think not. Snails and shrimp and crabs, oh my! Children become entranced watching lady (calico) crabs dancing around the tank. Then there are the too proud hermit crabs parading over the rock floor to show off their latest homes, yet coveting everyone else’s shell at the same time. The sea star clings to the center of the tank, while shrimp pulse through the water, occasionally getting swept away by a towering spray of air bubbles.

Come rain or come shine, the NMLC Discovery Center is open seven days a week from 10 am to 5 pm. Don’t miss it! The National Marine Life Center can be found at 120 Main Street, Buzzards Bay on the north (mainland) bank of Cape Cod Canal, right near the Railroad Bridge and Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Enoy a sneak peak at the NMLC Critter Tank!