How time flies when you’re helping turtles! It’s difficult for me to believe that it’s already mid-July, and yet I feel that in the 1 1/2 months I’ve been here, I feel we’ve accomplished a lot.

The center is now bustling with activity, as people bring their kids in to the Discovery Center for Fins and Flippers on Tuesdays and Wednesday and Marine Animal Medical Mystery Wednesdays. The interns and I had a lot of fun with turtle week, and we’ve been getting pretty creative and involved in planning the crafts each week. I feel as if I get as excited about some of the crafts as much as the kids do! Additionally, we have a good number of volunteers who have just started, and who are making the craft prep workload much lighter for us interns. Thanks guys!

Kids Working on Thermometer Turtles

We have also been busy getting ready for the numerous festivals that take place in July. This past weekend, the interns divided up to attend two festivals; the Sandwich Street Fair and the Swan Festival in Wareham. The Barnstable County Fair, the biggest event of the summer, should be a fantastic time! Starting nest weekend, we will have a table set up in the big tent from 12-10pm until Tuesday. In additional to getting a lovely marine animal tattoo (fake, of course!) and getting to see some of the cool whale specimens at our table, come enjoy the music, food, and (best of all) the RIDES! Can you tell I’m excited?! It will be a great time for all.

In heavier news, it is bothersome to me that the oil in the Gulf spill has yet to be capped, and that the test of a new method if being delayed for another day. Why must we keep waiting? Thousands upon thousands of gallons of oil is still escaping everyday, harming our ecosystems… in my opinion we are not moving fast enough. I also just recently read an Associated Press article about how the first Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle eggs evacuated from the Gulf were released in the Atlantic. The article stated:

“…the newborn Kemp’s ridley sea turtles did well after their release.

About 700 sea turtle nests — each containing about 100 eggs — are being trucked from oiled shores along the Gulf to Cape Canaveral, where they’re kept at a climate-controlled facility. The turtles are being released into the Atlantic as they hatch.

Scientists feared that a generation of the imperiled species would die if they hatched and swam into the oil.”

It is comforting to know that so many turtles were saved, but one wonders what the implications may be for future generations of turtles, which have always nested on the same beach, are relocated to a different environment. It seems only time will tell.

In turtle news at NMLC, Patty’s shell is slowly re-growing! Yesterday, Roger’s removed a good deal of dead tissue, and underneath was a dark pigment of shell starting to return. This is very exciting news, and though Patty’s shell now looks very pink and raw, it is nice to know she’s on the rebound. Catch 22 is as feisty as ever, and the interns seem to enjoy his natural sunlight basking treatment (AKA tanning time) as much as he does.

Summer is in full swing at NMLC, but I’ll be sure to send another update soon!

-Dory

Kids Working on Thermometer Turtles

Today at the National Marine Life Center we started our summer programs. We kicked it off with our first week, Turtle Week, which I had the privilege of being in charge of setting up and running. Today, with the help of my fellow interns and volunteers, we started with Fins and Flippers, which included story time with two stories, the first one was read by Dory Estrada and the second one was read by me, Frank Reske III, and an arts and craft which was mainly taken care of by interns Lianna Montgomery and Corissa Bubenick and volunteer Elizabeth St. Germaine. The stories that we read today were Turtle in the Sea by Jim Arnosky and Do you know where Sea Turtles go? By Paul Lowery. For today’s Art and Craft we did Sea Turtle Thermometers. For these you would take a foam turtle and draw any design with any color on its back then a thermometer and a magnet are glued to it so it can be hung up on your fridge. But that’s just the beginning! Later this week on Wednesday, we will have Marine Animal Mystery which is where we will take you through a mock turtle rescue and rehabilitation, showing you what it takes to help an injured or sick sea turtle. Then on Thursday we have another Fins and Flippers. Thursday’s Stories include Tammy Turtle: A Tale of Saving Sea Turtles by Suzanne Tate and Carolina’s Story: Sea Turtles Get Sick Too! By Donna Rathmell. The arts and craft is Magic Color Scratch Turtles, which you scratch with a stick to reveal a rainbow of colors. So as you can see a lot is ahead so come on down and join the fun!

And if you can’t make it to this week’s excitement, don’t worry; we also have many other weeks this summer with many other different creatures, including, but not limited to, sharks, manatees, whales, dolphins, seals, and many more. To find out more please stop by our Discovery Center and pick up a summer program. So don’t miss out. Programs run July through August, so stop in and visit us.

Frank Reske III

Education Intern

I realized on my last blog that I did not really talk too much about the daily duties of an intern. Therefore, this blog will just be a broad recap on some of the recent goings-on at NMLC.

Because some very significant donors came this past Thursday to take a look at the animal hospital, our assigned task for a good part of this week was to have the place looking spick and span rather than a haphazard construction site; after hours of heat, sweat, and dirt, the place looks great. I keep looking at the plan and visualizing how grand it’s going to be when it’s all completed. It will really bring so much to the Buzzards’ Bay area in terms of being a site of interest to attract tourists, but it will also be a stately facility to provide great rehabilitative care to sick or injured marine animals.

I also learned this week how to do a full tank change for Patty. It is a multi-step process that sometimes involves manually hauling heavy water-coolers full of salt water to the bin inside, but when I think of all this turtle has been through, it’s so worth it for her. Feeding is, obviously, also part of the daily routine. But it proved particularly challenging that day. Have you ever tried to crack open a frozen clam? It is probably one of the most frustrating experiences you will ever have. For 30 minutes, I tried (in vain) to extract the hearty meat for Patty that was waiting inside… finally, I had to resort to penetrating what I was starting to believe was a concrete shell with a heavy rock. She did not get her typical ‘clams on the half-shell’ that day, but I believe she was fine with this.

Good Ol' Patty... Who can resist that face?!

Another exciting piece of news from this week was that the water quality for the critter tank had improved enough to allow more fish and some invertebrates to now call it their home. Wednesday we went out with buckets and nets and collected different types of crabs, sea slugs, periwinkles, and sea stars. All will be catalogued, and while we may have our doubts as to what kind of relationship the crabs and sea stars will foster (the crab’s dinner delight?) we’ll just have to wait and see. Regardless, the kids that come into the Discovery Center will probably be very excited to see some new critters on display.

On this same topic, the start of the summer education programs is coming steadily upon us, and as such we interns have been dividing up the work in order to be ready. Since each week represents a marine animal, we have all chose one or two weeks that match up with what we want to do. I have whale week, and will also be assisting with shark week (which, btw, matches up with Shark Week on the Discovery Channel…. So cool! J I am fascinated by whales, for their immense size is enough to be overwhelming! Also, as part of my intern project on Deep-Sea Exploration (more on that in a later blog) I will be researching sunken whales. What is a sunken whale, you ask? Quite simply, a whale that has died and sunk to the ocean floor, something I believe most of us overlook. Far from being morbid, these occurrences actually offer scientists a rare opportunity to witness the deep-sea food chain in action and all those that feed off of the whale’s carcass. In some cases, when the meat has already been polished off, underwater robots may attempt to bring up the skeleton for scientific purposes. It really is quite fascinating, and I will definitely post more when I research it in-depth.

One of the crafts I'm looking at for Whale week (7/26)

Whale week will also include some adorable sock puppet whales for kids, and stories. I am hoping to find some on whale migration, for the distances some species travel are quite unbelievable. Perhaps a kid’s version of Moby Dick would also go along with the craft quite nicely, as well as a mini-lesson on the history of whaling, particularly right here on Cape Cod.

Things should be picking up soon with the programs, and it’s very exciting!

Photo by Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce

Just only two days ago was the second annual Quahog Day Festival in Sandwich, Massachusetts at the prestigious Hemisphere Restaurant. If you don’t know what this is, don’t worry I’ll explain it to you. This day is a representation of the first day of summer. What happens at this festival is after about an hour of people wandering around the restaurant looking at tables and sampling food and ice cream as they listen to a local band play some quahog related tunes, everyone gathers for the arrival of Doug the Quahog. He is brought in by a limousine carried by clam rake-wielding security personal and is in a fancy sea glass covered basket with a velvet lined pillow for comfort. He is carried down a red carpet to the beach right in front of the Hemisphere. There, he is surrounded by the security and held by Johnny Quahog (aka: Erik Bevans the Secretary General of Quahog Republic and restaurant owner…aka: the man dressed like Sam Adams). Johnny is said to be able to talk to the quahog. All goes silent as the local weatherman holds the microphone close to Doug.  Johnny listens intently, then holds the quahog up high and declares that Doug has predicted 13 weeks of good summer weather. Everyone claps and cheers as Doug is lowered back in to his basket. Then everyone heads back to Hemisphere for drinks and rejoicing. The only bad thing about this is that if Doug is wrong he becomes a stuffed Quahog. Sorry Doug (tear).

Hope this was enlightening

Frank Reske III

By Fran Bogden

REMINDER:  ART RECEPTION TONIGHT!

Wine and Cheese Reception for Painted Ladies Marine Life Art,
A Benefit for the National Marine Life Center
WHEN: Friday, June 18, 4-7 pm
WHERE: NMLC’s Marine Animal Discovery Center, 120 Main Street, Buzzards Bay
COST: Free to browse.  Art work available for $50 each.

In preparation for the show, we will preview several paintings each day this week.  Photographs, however, cannot do the art work justice!

By Penny Myers

Plan to visit the National Marine Life Center to browse the paintings in person.  The artwork will hang in the Discovery Center throughout the summer until sold.  Please note we cannot guarantee the availability of any painting; each is available on a first-come, first-served basis.  If you are seriously interested in a painting, please contact Kathy at 508-743-9888 x301 or kzagzebski@nmlc.org to discuss the possibility of placing a hold on a piece.

The Painted Ladies are a group of local, independent watercolor artists who meet at the Jonathan Bourne Public Library.

By Lynne Valeri

They hold several art shows and sales and charitable events throughout the year. This is their first benefit for the National Marine Life Center!  On behalf of the animals, thank you!

By Avis Glasheen

By Lynne Valeri

Wine and Cheese Reception for Painted Ladies Marine Life Art,
A Benefit for the National Marine Life Center
WHEN:  Friday, June 18, 4-7 pm
WHERE:  Marine Animal Discovery Center, 120 Main Street, Buzzards Bay
COST:  Free to browse.  Art work available for $50 each.

By Joanne Osterland

In preparation for the show, we will preview several paintings each day this week.  Photographs, however, cannot do the art work justice!  Plan to visit the National Marine Life Center to browse the paintings in person.  The artwork will hang in the Discovery Center throughout the summer until sold.  Please note we cannot guarantee the availability of any painting; each is available on a first-come, first-served basis.  If you are seriously interested in a painting, please contact Kathy at 508-743-9888 x301 or kzagzebski@nmlc.org to discuss the possibility of placing a hold on a piece.

By Avis Glasheen

The Painted Ladies are a group of local, independent watercolor artists who meet at the Jonathan Bourne Public Library. They hold several art shows and sales and charitable events throughout the year. This is their first benefit for the National Marine Life Center!  On behalf of the animals, thank you!

By Maureen Bean

Walking into the doors of NMLC, I had little idea of what to expect. As a marine biology major, I applied to the center wanting not only to garner a better understanding of some aspects of this vast field of science, but I was also keen to know more about sea turtles and other marine life that the center takes care of.

Turtles, at times, seem almost human-like in their characteristics. Catch 22 and Patty serve as patients from whom we have so much to learn about their medical mysteries. I admire Dr. Williams, or any veterinarian that matter, for being able to tell what is wrong with an animal just by observation. It’s much more difficult when a patient cannot explain their symptoms, and it is left up to guesswork to see what is going on internally. For instance Catch could not tell us “Jeez guys, I’m not feeling too well with this staple in my abdomen!”  Learning to prepare x-rays and take proper observations was key to understanding this problem.

Shortly after I arrived here, I began contemplating why we do what we do. I mean, why do we spend so much time, use so much equipment on resources, testing water quality, taking x-rays, weight, charts, medicating when the chances of numerous turtles surviving in the wild become slimmer and slimmer with ever-present threats to their environment and ecosystem? But after I went to my first release, I knew. It is by no means a waste; what we do here at NMLC is important to the balance of marine life.

We become attached to these animals to a certain extent. Yes, it is unavoidable. Even though it is hard to resist, we talk to the turtles. They obviously have no idea what we are saying (or do they?) but is a comfort to see one of those tiny little heads looking at you with those beady little eyes and feel like they understand every word. My own philosophy is that that we want these beautiful creatures to thrive in their natural environment. In an ever-changing world, nature is more fragile than ever. It seems fewer and fewer people take the time to stop and realize just how beautiful and precious the wild is, and how wrong of us it is to be dismembering so much of it for our own human advantage. The simplicity of nature is humbling… how creatures have existed in balance to their surrounding for millions of years is remarkable, and it’s time we all work to try and keep this balance… nothing on earth is more important.

The Gulf oil spill is truly a tragedy. Yesterday, while watching the news and a portion of President Obama’s address about the crisis, I was truly alarmed to think that we will be feeling the effects of this disaster for a long, long time to come. There are thousands of species of marine animals that exist in the Gulf, but now so many are in peril, and the fragile web of their ecosystem is on the brink of disaster. It pains me to think about what Tampa Bay may look like in two months time when I return to school. Perhaps oil may have spread there as well…however, I am glad our government is taking the necessary action to clean up this monstrosity, and hopefully see to it that a disaster of this magnitude will never happen again.

The little things we do at NMLC are all for the bigger picture: educating the public so they are more aware of the vital need to protect marine species; proper care and rehabilitation of the in-residence patients; building a larger animal hospital so we can expand our care facilities… all these things make a huge difference in the long-run to protect all marine life.

It seems I’m thinking beyond the dry reading in my Bio 204 book, and am putting concepts into action in the real world. And this, I guess, is what internships are all about.

Until next time!

~Dory

]]> http://nmlc.org/2010/06/the-think-tank-dorys-blog/feed/ 3 http://nmlc.org/2010/06/quahog-day-how-many-weeks-of-sunshine/ http://nmlc.org/2010/06/quahog-day-how-many-weeks-of-sunshine/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:03:06 +0000 Kathy Zagzebski http://nmlc.org/?p=5499 There’s a new tradition on Cape Cod – Quahog Day!
Sponsored by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, the event features Doug, the official prognosticating quahog, who will tell us how many weeks of sunshine to expect this summer!  It’s fun, it’s free, it’s kind of wacky, and some of the event proceeds benefit the National Marine Life Center!  Join us on June 21st, 4 pm, Hemisphere Restaurant in Sandwich.

Following is the official announcement from the Cape Cod Chamber.  For additional information, visit www.quahogday.com.

~~~~~

SPOTTED ON MAY 30th: Doug the Quahog celebrating the opening of the Cape Cod Melody Tent Box Office in Hyannis! Doug, a regular concertgoer at the Tent, was seen purchasing tickets to this weekend's Black Crowes concert and perusing the list of other shows for the 2010 summer season. This was one of many recent sightings of Doug since he went on the run Labor Day 2009. See him on June 21st at the Second Annual Cape Cod Quahog Day! Photo by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

Proving the groundhog has nothing over the quahog, Cape Cod will celebrate the First Day of Summer 2010 with the 2nd Annual Cape Cod Quahog Day on Monday, June 21st at Hemisphere Restaurant in Sandwich!

Once again, the Cape’s official Quahog (aptly named “Doug”) will come out of hiding for the official “Quahog Prognostication.” Speaking the secret bi-valve language, he will give word to the Secretary General of Quahog Republic on how many weeks of Cape Cod beach weather lie ahead. Last year, the little soothsayer predicted 11 ½ weeks of sunshine (although the jury remains out on his accuracy).

This year, we welcome FOX25 Meteorologist A.J. Burnett as the Master of Ceremonies at the Quahog Prognostication!

The ceremony, which will begin at 4 pm, will be followed by live music from Black Wampum, a local band which sings about Quahogs (yes, we kid you not!), free samples of Polar Cave Ice Cream‘s flavor “Doug’s Mud”(named in honor of Doug the Quahog), and a Quahog Day bash, co-sponsored with the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce. All proceeds of a 50-50 raffle at the event will benefit the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay.

The event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, but you must RSVP in advance! RSVP to kristen@capecodhamber.org.

Give us YOUR best guess at Facebook.com/CapeCodMassachusetts for what the Quahog will predict and the five people with the closest guess will receive a limited edition Quahog Day t-shirt!

The fun doesn’t end there! This year, Quahog Day will kick off a week’s worth of Quahog-related activities around Cape Cod.  Click Here for more information!

Here’s a video from the first annual Quahog Day in 2009.  Doug the Official Prognosticating Quahog predicted 11 1/2 weeks of sunshine.  Was he right?

June 6, 2010, World Oceans Day at the New England Aquarium
By Joy Olaes Surprenant

Catching Joy was pleased to be a part of World Oceans Day at the New England Aquarium on June 6, 2010. World Oceans Day is an opportunity every year to honor the world’s ocean, celebrate the products the ocean provides, such as seafood, as well as marine life itself for aquariums, pets, and also a time to appreciate its own intrinsic value. Catching Joy hosted a children’s activity table where we made turtle projects to promote the National Marine Life Center’s (NMLC) efforts to help protect and care for marine wildlife. Kids enjoyed decorating the paper turtles and learning about NMLC’s efforts to help save them. It was great to see so many families at this special event and enjoy all that the NE Aquarium has to offer.

The Aquarium is redefining what it means to be an aquarium: combining education, entertainment and action to address the most challenging problems facing the ocean. Through a wide variety of educational programs and conservation initiatives, NE Aquarium makes a lasting impact globally. For more information and upcoming events, check out www.neaq.org.

The National Marine Life Center is dedicated to rehabilitating for release stranded sea turtles, seals, dolphins, porpoises, and small whales, and to advancing scientific knowledge and education in marine wildlife health and conservation. For more information and to learn how to get involved, check out www.nmlc.org.

By Penny Myers

By Joanne Osterland

CALLING ALL ART LOVERS!

Wine and Cheese Reception for Painted Ladies Marine Life Art,
A Benefit for the National Marine Life Center
WHEN: Friday, June 18, 4-7 pm
WHERE: Marine Animal Discovery Center, 120 Main Street, Buzzards Bay
COST: Free to browse. Art work available for $50 each.

In preparation for the show, we will preview several paintings each day this week. Photographs, however, cannot do the art work justice!

Plan to visit the National Marine Life Center to browse the paintings in person. The artwork will hang in the Discovery Center throughout the summer until sold. Please note we cannot guarantee the availability of any painting; each is available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are seriously interested in a painting, please contact Kathy at 508-743-9888 x301 or kzagzebski@nmlc.org to discuss the possibility of placing a hold on a piece.

The Painted Ladies are a group of local, independent watercolor artists who meet at the Jonathan Bourne Public Library.

By Maureen Bean

They hold several art shows and sales and charitable events throughout the year. This is their first benefit for the National Marine Life Center! On behalf of the animals, thank you!

By Rita Quinn